Ready to quit if no trust in me: Uddhav

Mumbai: In a dramatic development, former Chief Minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray on Friday offered to quit his post if the party cadres desired it and hand over the reins to any ordinary Shiv Sainik.

In an emotionally charged yet aggressive address at the party’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations against the backdrop of the defection of 6 MPs, Thackeray said though he was “prepared to relinquish” the party chief’s post, provided the party was not allowed to fall into the hands of ‘traitors’.

“I am ready to quit as Shiv Sena (UBT) President at this moment. I have no lust for power or position, but my only condition is that the party should not go into the hands of turncoats. I have led the party for almost 15 years. Now false allegations are being hurled at me. You think and decide, and I am ready to step down immediately,” said Uddhav, signing off his speech, as his son Aditya and other senior party leaders rushed to his side.

The emotional appeal was met with thunderous chants from party workers urging him to continue leading the organisation.

Hitting back over the claims of political legacy of the (undivided) Shiv Sena, Uddhav asserted that the party was founded by his father Balasaheb in 1966.

“This party and its legacy were given to me by my father, Balasaheb Thackeray, and no ‘maika-lal can snatch it from me,” he declared amid resounding applause.

Attacking the six rebels, Thackeray tendered an apology to the people of Maharashtra for the defections.

“For the treachery of these six MPs, I apologise to the people. When there was a ‘Modi-wave’ in 2024, we countered it and got our nine MPs elected against all odds, despite massive money power. Now again they are playing the same games,” he said.

“Farmers don’t get a minimum support price or debt waivers for their work, but MPs’ prices are fixed. You have so much money? It is time to question the MPs you have elected. Go and exercise your right,” exhorted Thackeray, in a swipe at the defectors and those purportedly financing the operations.

He also rubbished speculation floated by certain vested interests that now the SS (UBT) would ‘merge’ with the Congress.

“See, even after remaining with the BJP for 30 years, we did not join them, so where is the question of merging with the Congress now? This party was born for the Marathi manoos and the Hindus, and it will never betray them,” asserted Uddhav to another round of claps.

Rubbishing allegations from the ruling side and the defectors, that he was ‘inaccessible to party leaders’, Uddhav shot back: “You donkeys, if I was really not meeting them, then how did they get elected? The party got you elected and gave you everything, but the credit does not go to me, it goes to Balasaheb Thackeray…”

Without taking names, Uddhav leered at Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, saying how “some expected our anniversary celebrations to be sombre after the recent setbacks, but it has actually turned out to be a fiery affair, thanks to my Shiv Sainiks”.

Reiterating his earlier warnings that the country was being pushed towards authoritarianism, Thackeray claimed that the masses are losing ‘faith’ in democracy.

“The Bharatiya Janata Party is leading the country towards a ‘One Nation, No Election’ scenario. It is time for all of us to unite and perform an ‘Operation Lotus’ on them… Remember, when the youth of the country unite, they will uproot you,” said Thackeray.