In response to the comments, Thackeray hinted to the BJP’s partnership with Shinde after the Shiv Sena split in 2022.
As Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray and a number of other members were bid farewell at the conclusion of their six-year terms, the Maharashtra Legislative Council saw a mixture of goodwill and political squabbling on Tuesday.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde used the occasion to subtly make fun of his erstwhile master, while Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis considered his long-standing connection with Thackeray.
Fadnavis recalled that he had known Thackeray since 2010, when the BJP and the unified Shiv Sena were allies. He described Thackeray as someone whose initial attitude was measured and relationship-driven rather than combative, and claimed that their personal bond grew even stronger after 2014.
Fadnavis Remembers the Past
We became pals. Even while he accepted that their paths diverged due to a political rift in 2019, Fadnavis stated, “I will not say it is not there now.”
According to the chief minister, Thackeray’s disposition was unlike that of a normal politician.
Thackeray is frequently spotted fighting, launching powerful attacks, and retaliating. However, this was not his initial temperament. According to Fadnavis, “His initial temperament is measured and maintaining relations.”
Fadnavis added that Thackeray didn’t care about the repercussions.
In response, Thackeray hinted at the BJP’s partnership with Shinde after the Shiv Sena split in 2022.
Without mentioning Shinde by name, he remarked, “If you knew me so well, then why did you hold someone else’s hand?”
In addition, he asked for the appointment of Leaders of Opposition in both chambers of the state legislature and enumerated the tasks completed during his time as chief minister, including the management of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Jibe of Shinde
At first, Shinde, who made the farewell motion, was conciliatory, stating that there are no complete pauses in politics.
However, while referring to Deputy Chairperson Neelam Gorhe, he remarked that she had not been “born with a silver spoon”, in an apparent contrast to Thackeray, who inherited the party leadership from his father, Bal Thackeray.
Neelam Gorhe and Shinde have both worked under Bal Thackeray’s direction.
Uddhav Thackeray mentioned in his speech the instance of Ashok Kharat, a self-described godman who was detained for raping a woman under the guise of carrying out rites.
He remarked cryptically, “Bulls are being slaughtered for selfish reasons.”
Shinde visited a shrine constructed by Kharat in the Nashik district after overthrowing the Thackeray-led government to become chief minister in 2022. Following Kharat’s recent arrest, their pictures went viral.
Sena (UBT) leaders have previously claimed that bulls were slaughtered at a Guwahati temple when Shinde and MLAs from his faction travelled to Assam following the 2022 Shiv Sena split.
