‘Balasaheb wouldn’t be okay with alliance’

Mumbai: On the occasion of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray’s birth anniversary, the Uddhav Thackerayled faction shared a video of Balasaheb on social media. In the video, Balasaheb Thackeray is seen saying, “If even one MLA of Shiv Sena is broken, trample him on the road.”

The video is being shared on multiple social media platforms since it was posted on Monday.
Speaking to mediapersons, (Chief Minister Eknath) Shinde faction MLA Sanjay Gaikwad, said, “If Balasaheb Thackeray was alive now, he would have trampled all the other leaders including Raut, who is in alliance with Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).”

When asked about Balasaheb’s words in the video, Gaikwad said, “When Balasaheb Thackeray was alive, we also marched as Shiv Sainiks. Back then, the MLAs who had split had done so by betraying Hindutva. We (the Shinde faction) have split by taking with us the thoughts of Balasaheb Thackeray and not by betraying Hindutva.”

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray on Monday targeted former ally BJP saying it is trying to take the country towards dictatorship through the “sham” Hindutva.

Without naming BJP, he said they want to have an “iron grip” on India and referred to China.
He was addressing party workers on the 97th birth anniversary of Bal Thackeray.

Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Ajit Pawar said, “We should not forget to say that he (Balasaheb) was a Hindu ‘hriday samrat’ and respected other castes and religions as well.”

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray termed himself “rightful successor of Balasaheb’s thoughts.”