News Analysis India

Tag: Uddhav Thackeray

  • MVA in shreds? Raut says many NCP MLAs in favour of joining BJP

    Express News Service

    MUMBAI:  As a ‘blinding dust storm’ within the NCP takes time to settle, the revelations by Sharad Pawar in his biography ‘Lok Maja Sangati’ (On My Terms) have further soured his party’s relationship with Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena. 

    That has impacted badly on the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), an alliance of Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP. Sharad Pawar, the MVA architect, has said in his biography that Uddhav failed to prevent the revolt within the party and save the three-party-led government as well.

    In his response, Uddhav Thackeray said on Thursday that everyone has the right to write his own biography. “Whatever work I have done as chief minister is in the public domain. My work during the pandemic has been appreciated and people perceive me as their family member. I will not speak more about it,” Uddhav said.

    In the book, Pawar says he used to comfortably speak with Balasaheb Thackeray but found it difficult while interacting with Uddhav after he became the CM. Then it was the turn of Sanjay Raut, the Sena (Uddhav) Rajya Sabha member. In his edit column in the party organ Saamana on Thursday, he said a section of the NCP is on the verge of joining the BJP. “Sharad does not want to see a split in his party, so he chose to quit as party chief. Another reason was that he wants to retain his secular image,” Raut wrote.

    He said Sharad Pawar has taken the “right decision” by announcing his resignation as the party chief. “NCP state chief Jayant Patil spoke of feelings of common party workers — Pawar is NCP and vice versa. People vote for the NCP by looking at Sharad Pawar only.” Then came the truth as seen by him. “A section of the NCP is already on the threshold of joining the BJP. A political earthquake can take place in Maharashtra at any time,” Raut said.

    MUMBAI:  As a ‘blinding dust storm’ within the NCP takes time to settle, the revelations by Sharad Pawar in his biography ‘Lok Maja Sangati’ (On My Terms) have further soured his party’s relationship with Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena. 

    That has impacted badly on the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), an alliance of Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP. Sharad Pawar, the MVA architect, has said in his biography that Uddhav failed to prevent the revolt within the party and save the three-party-led government as well.

    In his response, Uddhav Thackeray said on Thursday that everyone has the right to write his own biography. “Whatever work I have done as chief minister is in the public domain. My work during the pandemic has been appreciated and people perceive me as their family member. I will not speak more about it,” Uddhav said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    In the book, Pawar says he used to comfortably speak with Balasaheb Thackeray but found it difficult while interacting with Uddhav after he became the CM. Then it was the turn of Sanjay Raut, the Sena (Uddhav) Rajya Sabha member. In his edit column in the party organ Saamana on Thursday, he said a section of the NCP is on the verge of joining the BJP. “Sharad does not want to see a split in his party, so he chose to quit as party chief. Another reason was that he wants to retain his secular image,” Raut wrote.

    He said Sharad Pawar has taken the “right decision” by announcing his resignation as the party chief. “NCP state chief Jayant Patil spoke of feelings of common party workers — Pawar is NCP and vice versa. People vote for the NCP by looking at Sharad Pawar only.” Then came the truth as seen by him. “A section of the NCP is already on the threshold of joining the BJP. A political earthquake can take place in Maharashtra at any time,” Raut said.

  • Shiv Sena: SC rejects plea for transfer of party assets from Thackeray faction to Shinde group

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a plea seeking a direction to the Maharashtra government that all party assets of the Shiv Sena being held by the Uddhav Thackeray faction be transferred to the group led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

    A bench comprising Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and Justice P S Narasimha questioned the locus of petitioner Ashish Giri, a lawyer, and dismissed his plea.

    “Who are you? What is your locus,” the bench asked and then said, “Dismissed.

    ” Giri said a plea has been filed in the top court as it has heard various petitions relating to the feud between the Thackeray and the Shinde factions.

    He had said the assets of the party should be transferred to the Shinde group.

    “What kind of petition is this and who are you? Your request cannot be entertained,” the bench said.

    The top court, on March 16, had reserved its verdict on a batch of cross-petitions of Uddhav Thackeray and CM Eknath Shinde factions pertaining to the Maharashtra political crisis.

    The poll panel has granted the symbol, bow and arrow, to the Shinde faction and the issue is presently sub-judice.

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a plea seeking a direction to the Maharashtra government that all party assets of the Shiv Sena being held by the Uddhav Thackeray faction be transferred to the group led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

    A bench comprising Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and Justice P S Narasimha questioned the locus of petitioner Ashish Giri, a lawyer, and dismissed his plea.

    “Who are you? What is your locus,” the bench asked and then said, “Dismissed.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    ” Giri said a plea has been filed in the top court as it has heard various petitions relating to the feud between the Thackeray and the Shinde factions.

    He had said the assets of the party should be transferred to the Shinde group.

    “What kind of petition is this and who are you? Your request cannot be entertained,” the bench said.

    The top court, on March 16, had reserved its verdict on a batch of cross-petitions of Uddhav Thackeray and CM Eknath Shinde factions pertaining to the Maharashtra political crisis.

    The poll panel has granted the symbol, bow and arrow, to the Shinde faction and the issue is presently sub-judice.

  • Why 2024, NCP can stake claim to Maharashtra CM post now also: Ajit Pawar

    By PTI

    PUNE: Amid speculation over his next political move, senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar on Friday said his outfit can stake a claim to the post of Maharashtra’s chief minister “now also” instead of waiting for 2024 when Assembly polls are due in the state.

    The Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly also told an interviewer that he will “100 per cent” like to be chief minister of Maharashtra.

    In a free-wheeling interview to the Sakal Media Group at a programme called ‘Dilkhulas Dada’ in Pune, Pawar said he had heard that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, before his rebellion against the Shiv Sena leadership in June 2022, was unhappy and something was going in his mind.

    Pawar revealed his colleague late R R Patil would have become Chief Minister in 2004 when the NCP had won more Assembly seats than its ally Congress, but a message came from Delhi that his party will get the deputy CM’s post.

    Asked whether the NCP will stake a claim for the chief minister’s post next year when Assembly polls are due in Maharashtra, he remarked, “Why 2024, we are ready to stake a claim for the CM position now also.”

    He, however, did not elaborate on the statement.

    During the rapid fire round, the MLA from Baramati in Pune district, who has served as deputy CM multiple times, was asked by the interviewer whether he would like to become chief minister.

    To this, Pawar promptly replied, “Yes, I would 100 per cent like to be (CM).”

    ALSO READ | Sharad Pawar tightens his grip over NCP, tells Ajit not to break it

    Asked why the NCP has an attraction for the deputy CM’s position as the party has got that post on multiple occasions in the last 20 years, the veteran politician said in 2004, the NCP and the Congress fought Assembly elections in an alliance and the former had won more seats.

    “We got 71 seats, while the Congress won 69. Everyone, including the Congress, thought CM would be from the NCP. However, some decisions were taken at the highest level and a message came from Delhi that the NCP will get the deputy chief minister position and the CM post went to Congress,” he said.

    Pawar said his colleague Patil was chosen as the Leader of the House (Assembly), and he would have become chief minister in 2004 if the top post was given to the NCP. In the subsequent Assembly polls, the Congress bagged more seats than the NCP and naturally kept the CM’s post with itself, he said.

    Asked whether he liked working with Congress CM Prithviraj Chavan or Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray, who occupied the top post from November 2019 to June 2022, Pawar said they worked with the latter “happily”, but working with the former was out of choice.

    On Shinde’s revolt and subsequent split in the Shiv Sena, the former deputy CM said they used to hear that Shinde, then his Cabinet colleague in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, was unhappy and sensed something was going on in his mind.

    “We had alerted Pawar Saheb (NCP president Sharad Pawar) and Thackeray was also apprised about it. The BJP had been trying to pull down the MVA government since the first day of its formation. The wife of a key politician confessed later that her husband used to go out in disguise, and later some ministers said Shinde and a particular leader used to meet,” Pawar said without taking any names.

    ALSO READ | Won’t be in govt if Ajit Pawar joins BJP with NCP group: Shinde camp

    He said during the MVA government, Thackeray had given full control of Thane district to Shinde, then a Cabinet minister, and some officials appointed by him had helped rebel Shiv Sena MLAs to sneak out of Mumbai and reach Surat on June 20.

    Queried about him being soft on senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, Pawar said the two had political and ideological differences but weren’t enemies, and cited the example of Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena founder late Bal Thackeray who attacked each other during rallies and speeches but were good friends.

    Pawar went on add that a commonality between him and Fadnavis was that they were both born on July 22. Pawar was born in 1959 and Fadnavis in 1970.

    Speaking about the rise of the BJP over the last few years, Pawar said it was all due to the charisma of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who managed to lead the party to a majority in consecutive Lok Sabha polls in 2014 and 2019, a feat which even veterans like former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Lal Krishna Advani could not manage.

    “However, today when the question is asked who after Modi, then no name comes to the fore and we know going forward there will be coalition governments at the national level,” the NCP leader added.

    On India surpassing China as the world’s most populous nation, Pawar said some stringent measures need to be taken to check its growth.

    “A child is not a blessing of Allah or Parameshwar. It is the blessing of the husband and wife. This fact should be understood by all and superstitions on this issue must be removed,” Pawar said.

    He said had the five-point programme of Sanjay Gandhi (to check population growth) been implemented properly, the problems associated with the rise in population would not have been faced by the country.

    Pawar on Friday skipped a meeting of his party’s Mumbai unit, raising eyebrows in political circles as speculation about his next political move refuses to die down.

    Speaking to reporters in Pune, Pawar played down the buzz saying he was unable to attend the NCP convention as he had to remain present for some other programmes happening at the same time.

    He insisted nothing much should be read into this.

    ALSO READ | Ajit Pawar gets signatures of 40 ready to bolt

    PUNE: Amid speculation over his next political move, senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar on Friday said his outfit can stake a claim to the post of Maharashtra’s chief minister “now also” instead of waiting for 2024 when Assembly polls are due in the state.

    The Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly also told an interviewer that he will “100 per cent” like to be chief minister of Maharashtra.

    In a free-wheeling interview to the Sakal Media Group at a programme called ‘Dilkhulas Dada’ in Pune, Pawar said he had heard that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, before his rebellion against the Shiv Sena leadership in June 2022, was unhappy and something was going in his mind.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Pawar revealed his colleague late R R Patil would have become Chief Minister in 2004 when the NCP had won more Assembly seats than its ally Congress, but a message came from Delhi that his party will get the deputy CM’s post.

    Asked whether the NCP will stake a claim for the chief minister’s post next year when Assembly polls are due in Maharashtra, he remarked, “Why 2024, we are ready to stake a claim for the CM position now also.”

    He, however, did not elaborate on the statement.

    During the rapid fire round, the MLA from Baramati in Pune district, who has served as deputy CM multiple times, was asked by the interviewer whether he would like to become chief minister.

    To this, Pawar promptly replied, “Yes, I would 100 per cent like to be (CM).”

    ALSO READ | Sharad Pawar tightens his grip over NCP, tells Ajit not to break it

    Asked why the NCP has an attraction for the deputy CM’s position as the party has got that post on multiple occasions in the last 20 years, the veteran politician said in 2004, the NCP and the Congress fought Assembly elections in an alliance and the former had won more seats.

    “We got 71 seats, while the Congress won 69. Everyone, including the Congress, thought CM would be from the NCP. However, some decisions were taken at the highest level and a message came from Delhi that the NCP will get the deputy chief minister position and the CM post went to Congress,” he said.

    Pawar said his colleague Patil was chosen as the Leader of the House (Assembly), and he would have become chief minister in 2004 if the top post was given to the NCP. In the subsequent Assembly polls, the Congress bagged more seats than the NCP and naturally kept the CM’s post with itself, he said.

    Asked whether he liked working with Congress CM Prithviraj Chavan or Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray, who occupied the top post from November 2019 to June 2022, Pawar said they worked with the latter “happily”, but working with the former was out of choice.

    On Shinde’s revolt and subsequent split in the Shiv Sena, the former deputy CM said they used to hear that Shinde, then his Cabinet colleague in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, was unhappy and sensed something was going on in his mind.

    “We had alerted Pawar Saheb (NCP president Sharad Pawar) and Thackeray was also apprised about it. The BJP had been trying to pull down the MVA government since the first day of its formation. The wife of a key politician confessed later that her husband used to go out in disguise, and later some ministers said Shinde and a particular leader used to meet,” Pawar said without taking any names.

    ALSO READ | Won’t be in govt if Ajit Pawar joins BJP with NCP group: Shinde camp

    He said during the MVA government, Thackeray had given full control of Thane district to Shinde, then a Cabinet minister, and some officials appointed by him had helped rebel Shiv Sena MLAs to sneak out of Mumbai and reach Surat on June 20.

    Queried about him being soft on senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, Pawar said the two had political and ideological differences but weren’t enemies, and cited the example of Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena founder late Bal Thackeray who attacked each other during rallies and speeches but were good friends.

    Pawar went on add that a commonality between him and Fadnavis was that they were both born on July 22. Pawar was born in 1959 and Fadnavis in 1970.

    Speaking about the rise of the BJP over the last few years, Pawar said it was all due to the charisma of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who managed to lead the party to a majority in consecutive Lok Sabha polls in 2014 and 2019, a feat which even veterans like former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Lal Krishna Advani could not manage.

    “However, today when the question is asked who after Modi, then no name comes to the fore and we know going forward there will be coalition governments at the national level,” the NCP leader added.

    On India surpassing China as the world’s most populous nation, Pawar said some stringent measures need to be taken to check its growth.

    “A child is not a blessing of Allah or Parameshwar. It is the blessing of the husband and wife. This fact should be understood by all and superstitions on this issue must be removed,” Pawar said.

    He said had the five-point programme of Sanjay Gandhi (to check population growth) been implemented properly, the problems associated with the rise in population would not have been faced by the country.

    Pawar on Friday skipped a meeting of his party’s Mumbai unit, raising eyebrows in political circles as speculation about his next political move refuses to die down.

    Speaking to reporters in Pune, Pawar played down the buzz saying he was unable to attend the NCP convention as he had to remain present for some other programmes happening at the same time.

    He insisted nothing much should be read into this.

    ALSO READ | Ajit Pawar gets signatures of 40 ready to bolt

  • ‘We are together’: Uddhav Thackeray meets with Congress leaders to firm up Opposition unity

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have sabotaged democracy in the country and there was need for all opposition parties to fight unitedly against this dictatorship, All India Congress Committee general secretary KC Venugopal said here on Monday.

    Venugopal arrived in the metropolis in the evening and held a meeting with Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray for more than half an hour, after which both leaders addressed a press conference.

    “We have witnessed how democracy has been sabotaged by Modi and Amit Shah. All the opposition parties have a general consensus to fight together against the dictatorship of Modi. The Congress is in full solidarity with the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT). We are all in agreement that we have to fight these forces (BJP) together,” he said.

    During the previous Parliamentary session, all opposition parties were meeting for a common strategy under the leadership of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Venugopal said.

    “It was the government side that was disrupting proceedings in Parliament. We only sought a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe on the Adani issue. They (BJP) did not want this, hence, resorted to disturbing proceedings,” he said.

    Venugopal said the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate were targeting opposition parties, especially the Shiv Sena (UBT).

    He said there was a feeling among all opposition parties for a broader unity, which is why Kharge and Rahul Gandhi met Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav as well as NCP supremo Sharad Pawar.

    “There are some differences among political parties. They have their own ideologies but the country is facing a bigger issue. This type of atmosphere (under the Modi government) has never been witnessed before,” Venugopal claimed.

    ALSO READ | Shinde going, going… Ajit Pawar readies to be Maha successor

    Speaking on his discussion with Thackeray, the Congress leader said it was a fruitful one where a lot of issues were deliberated upon. “Hum saath hain (we are together) is the message we want to give,” he added.

    “I have requested Uddhavji to come to Delhi to meet Soniaji. Then Rahul Gandhi will also definitely visit Mumbai,” he said in response to a media query.

    Speaking at the press conference, Thackeray, without naming Modi, used terms like “man-eater” and “power-hungry” for the current dispensation at the Centre.

    “I don’t think it is wrong to use such terminology against them (BJP-led Union government). Only one person is considered important. The Shiv Sena is in the arena with all its strength,” the former Maharashtra chief minister said.

    “We were with them (BJP) for 25 years but they have forgotten this friendship. We (Shiv Sena) are a party that lives up to friendship. We treat it like a relation,” he said.

    ALSO READ | Rahul-Uddhav meet likely at Matoshree to break ice

    On BJP national president JP Nadda’s recent comments in Mumbai that there won’t be any other party left in the country, Thackeray said, “He may have said it unintentionally but it is something we have to oppose. The Sena will fight for democracy.”

    Thackeray said his party had spoken to Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, adding the (Lok Sabha) elections are not even a year away.

    The Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party make up the Maha Vikas Aghadi, which was in power in Maharashtra till June last year.

    A rebellion by Eknath Shinde led to a split in the Sena. Shinde went on to become chief minister with the support of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

    MUMBAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have sabotaged democracy in the country and there was need for all opposition parties to fight unitedly against this dictatorship, All India Congress Committee general secretary KC Venugopal said here on Monday.

    Venugopal arrived in the metropolis in the evening and held a meeting with Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray for more than half an hour, after which both leaders addressed a press conference.

    “We have witnessed how democracy has been sabotaged by Modi and Amit Shah. All the opposition parties have a general consensus to fight together against the dictatorship of Modi. The Congress is in full solidarity with the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT). We are all in agreement that we have to fight these forces (BJP) together,” he said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    During the previous Parliamentary session, all opposition parties were meeting for a common strategy under the leadership of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Venugopal said.

    “It was the government side that was disrupting proceedings in Parliament. We only sought a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe on the Adani issue. They (BJP) did not want this, hence, resorted to disturbing proceedings,” he said.

    Venugopal said the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate were targeting opposition parties, especially the Shiv Sena (UBT).

    He said there was a feeling among all opposition parties for a broader unity, which is why Kharge and Rahul Gandhi met Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav as well as NCP supremo Sharad Pawar.

    “There are some differences among political parties. They have their own ideologies but the country is facing a bigger issue. This type of atmosphere (under the Modi government) has never been witnessed before,” Venugopal claimed.

    ALSO READ | Shinde going, going… Ajit Pawar readies to be Maha successor

    Speaking on his discussion with Thackeray, the Congress leader said it was a fruitful one where a lot of issues were deliberated upon. “Hum saath hain (we are together) is the message we want to give,” he added.

    “I have requested Uddhavji to come to Delhi to meet Soniaji. Then Rahul Gandhi will also definitely visit Mumbai,” he said in response to a media query.

    Speaking at the press conference, Thackeray, without naming Modi, used terms like “man-eater” and “power-hungry” for the current dispensation at the Centre.

    “I don’t think it is wrong to use such terminology against them (BJP-led Union government). Only one person is considered important. The Shiv Sena is in the arena with all its strength,” the former Maharashtra chief minister said.

    “We were with them (BJP) for 25 years but they have forgotten this friendship. We (Shiv Sena) are a party that lives up to friendship. We treat it like a relation,” he said.

    ALSO READ | Rahul-Uddhav meet likely at Matoshree to break ice

    On BJP national president JP Nadda’s recent comments in Mumbai that there won’t be any other party left in the country, Thackeray said, “He may have said it unintentionally but it is something we have to oppose. The Sena will fight for democracy.”

    Thackeray said his party had spoken to Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, adding the (Lok Sabha) elections are not even a year away.

    The Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party make up the Maha Vikas Aghadi, which was in power in Maharashtra till June last year.

    A rebellion by Eknath Shinde led to a split in the Sena. Shinde went on to become chief minister with the support of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

  • Savarkar our idol, won’t tolerate his insult: Uddhav warns Rahul Gandhi

    By PTI

    MALEGAON: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said he considers Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar as his “idol”, and asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to refrain from “insulting” him.

    He said the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance of three parties – Sena (UBT), Congress, and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) – was formed to protect democracy and it was necessary to work unitedly for it.

    Addressing a rally in the Muslim-dominated textile town of Malegaon in the Nashik district of north Maharashtra, Thackeray also said that deliberate attempts were on to provoke Rahul Gandhi.

    “Savarkar is our idol and his insult will not be tolerated if we have to fight together to protect our democracy. Savarkar suffered unimaginable torture in the Andaman cellular jail for 14 years. We can only read the sufferings. It is a form of sacrifice,” he said.

    ”I want to tell Rahul Gandhi that we have come together to save our country’s democracy and its Constitution. But you are deliberately being provoked. If we allow this time to get wasted, then democracy will cease to exist. 2024 will be the last election,” he added.

    Gandhi was disqualified from the Lok Sabha on Friday, a day after a court in Gujarat’s Surat convicted him in a 2019 defamation case.

    Addressing a press conference in Delhi over his disqualification, Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said, “My name is not Savarkar, my name is Gandhi and Gandhi does not offer an apology to anyone.”

    Thackeray said he supported Gandhi for his Bharat Jodo Yatra.

    “Rahul Gandhi spoke well at his press conference yesterday. He raised valid questions about to whom does Rs 20,000 crore belong. But the government doesn’t want to answer,” he said.

    During his press conference on Saturday, Gandhi said the moot questions remain over who invested Rs 20,000 crore in Adani shell firms and what is the businessman’s relationship with the prime minister.

    Targeting the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Thackeray alleged that those who have no connection with the country’s freedom movement were attempting to finish off democracy.

    Thackeray, who was addressing his second rally here after Khed in Ratnagiri district since losing the party name and symbol to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, said he was fighting to save democracy and freedom. “The fight is not about me becoming the chief minister again,” he said.

    Thackeray also said NCP leader Anil Deshmukh’s six-year-old granddaughter was questioned by probe agencies and even Lalu Prasad Yadav’s pregnant daughter-in-law was quizzed till she fainted.

    “If you criticise those in power, police will be after you,” he said.

    “Modi is not India. Did our freedom fighters lay down their lives for this?” he asked.

    The former CM wondered how good and honest people in the BJP were tolerating the corrupt people brought into their fold from other parties.

    Hitting out at CM Shinde, Thackeray said he doesn’t regret losing the chief minister’s post, but a government doing good work was shamelessly toppled. “Farmers are facing a lot of hardships and the Shinde government is doing nothing to ease their problems,” he alleged.

    Thackeray said he has been robbed of his party’s name and symbol, but traitors can never rob him of the love and affection of the people.

    He said his government has taken several steps for the development of the textile sector in Malegaon and farmers and during the COVID-19 pandemic. “During the pandemic, I had spoken to the religious heads in Malegaon and everyone here cooperated with the government initiatives to control the spread of the virus,” he said.

    MALEGAON: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said he considers Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar as his “idol”, and asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to refrain from “insulting” him.

    He said the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance of three parties – Sena (UBT), Congress, and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) – was formed to protect democracy and it was necessary to work unitedly for it.

    Addressing a rally in the Muslim-dominated textile town of Malegaon in the Nashik district of north Maharashtra, Thackeray also said that deliberate attempts were on to provoke Rahul Gandhi.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “Savarkar is our idol and his insult will not be tolerated if we have to fight together to protect our democracy. Savarkar suffered unimaginable torture in the Andaman cellular jail for 14 years. We can only read the sufferings. It is a form of sacrifice,” he said.

    ”I want to tell Rahul Gandhi that we have come together to save our country’s democracy and its Constitution. But you are deliberately being provoked. If we allow this time to get wasted, then democracy will cease to exist. 2024 will be the last election,” he added.

    Gandhi was disqualified from the Lok Sabha on Friday, a day after a court in Gujarat’s Surat convicted him in a 2019 defamation case.

    Addressing a press conference in Delhi over his disqualification, Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said, “My name is not Savarkar, my name is Gandhi and Gandhi does not offer an apology to anyone.”

    Thackeray said he supported Gandhi for his Bharat Jodo Yatra.

    “Rahul Gandhi spoke well at his press conference yesterday. He raised valid questions about to whom does Rs 20,000 crore belong. But the government doesn’t want to answer,” he said.

    During his press conference on Saturday, Gandhi said the moot questions remain over who invested Rs 20,000 crore in Adani shell firms and what is the businessman’s relationship with the prime minister.

    Targeting the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Thackeray alleged that those who have no connection with the country’s freedom movement were attempting to finish off democracy.

    Thackeray, who was addressing his second rally here after Khed in Ratnagiri district since losing the party name and symbol to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, said he was fighting to save democracy and freedom. “The fight is not about me becoming the chief minister again,” he said.

    Thackeray also said NCP leader Anil Deshmukh’s six-year-old granddaughter was questioned by probe agencies and even Lalu Prasad Yadav’s pregnant daughter-in-law was quizzed till she fainted.

    “If you criticise those in power, police will be after you,” he said.

    “Modi is not India. Did our freedom fighters lay down their lives for this?” he asked.

    The former CM wondered how good and honest people in the BJP were tolerating the corrupt people brought into their fold from other parties.

    Hitting out at CM Shinde, Thackeray said he doesn’t regret losing the chief minister’s post, but a government doing good work was shamelessly toppled. “Farmers are facing a lot of hardships and the Shinde government is doing nothing to ease their problems,” he alleged.

    Thackeray said he has been robbed of his party’s name and symbol, but traitors can never rob him of the love and affection of the people.

    He said his government has taken several steps for the development of the textile sector in Malegaon and farmers and during the COVID-19 pandemic. “During the pandemic, I had spoken to the religious heads in Malegaon and everyone here cooperated with the government initiatives to control the spread of the virus,” he said.

  • Shiv Sena legislative party office at Vidhan Bhavan belongs to us: Shinde faction chief whip

    By ANI

    MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) took control of the Shiv Sena legislative party office at Vidhan Bhavan. The chief whip Bharat Gogawale with other MLAs had reached Vidhan Bhavan earlier on Monday and gave notice to the Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly Rahul Narvekar seeking a handover of the office. 

    Bharat Gogawale had said that the office at Vidhan Bhavan belonged to the Shinde faction after the ECI order. “We have given a notice to the Speaker. We are following the orders of ECI. Since ECI has recognised us as Shiv Sena, so this office belongs to us now,” he said.

    The Election Commission of India (ECI) on February 17 had allotted the party name “Shiv Sena” and the symbol “Bow and Arrow” to the faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

    Both factions of the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray) have been fighting for the bow and arrow symbol of the party since Shinde revolted against Thackeray last year.

    Calling the poll panel’s decision a “murder of democracy”, Uddhav Thackeray said he will approach the Supreme Court against ECI’s decision.

    The Uddhav Thackeray faction accused the Election Commission of haste and said the decision shows “it works as BJP agent”.

    The Commission observed in its order that the current constitution of the Shiv Sena party is undemocratic and has been “mutilated to undemocratically appoint people from a coterie as office bearers without any election at all”. It said such party structures fail to inspire confidence.

    Last month, both Eknath Shinde and former CM Uddhav Thackeray-led factions of the Shiv Sena submitted their written statements in support of their claims of control over the party name and symbol to the Election Commission.

    The ECI had frozen the bow and arrow symbol of the Shiv Sena and had allotted the ‘Two Swords and Shield symbol’ to the Eknath Shinde faction of Shiv Sena and the ‘flaming torch’ (mashaal) election symbol was allotted to the Uddhav Thackeray faction for the bypoll in Andheri East assembly constituency in November last year.

    Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday said that the thieves were given the holy “bow and arrow” and that this is their test. “Thieves were given the holy ‘bow and arrow’, similarly the ‘torch’ (mashaal) can be taken away. I challenge them – if they are men, come in front of us even with the stolen ‘bow and arrow’, we will contest the election with the ‘torch’. This is our test, the battle has begun,” Thackeray said.

    MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) took control of the Shiv Sena legislative party office at Vidhan Bhavan. The chief whip Bharat Gogawale with other MLAs had reached Vidhan Bhavan earlier on Monday and gave notice to the Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly Rahul Narvekar seeking a handover of the office. 

    Bharat Gogawale had said that the office at Vidhan Bhavan belonged to the Shinde faction after the ECI order. “We have given a notice to the Speaker. We are following the orders of ECI. Since ECI has recognised us as Shiv Sena, so this office belongs to us now,” he said.

    The Election Commission of India (ECI) on February 17 had allotted the party name “Shiv Sena” and the symbol “Bow and Arrow” to the faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

    Both factions of the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray) have been fighting for the bow and arrow symbol of the party since Shinde revolted against Thackeray last year.

    Calling the poll panel’s decision a “murder of democracy”, Uddhav Thackeray said he will approach the Supreme Court against ECI’s decision.

    The Uddhav Thackeray faction accused the Election Commission of haste and said the decision shows “it works as BJP agent”.

    The Commission observed in its order that the current constitution of the Shiv Sena party is undemocratic and has been “mutilated to undemocratically appoint people from a coterie as office bearers without any election at all”. It said such party structures fail to inspire confidence.

    Last month, both Eknath Shinde and former CM Uddhav Thackeray-led factions of the Shiv Sena submitted their written statements in support of their claims of control over the party name and symbol to the Election Commission.

    The ECI had frozen the bow and arrow symbol of the Shiv Sena and had allotted the ‘Two Swords and Shield symbol’ to the Eknath Shinde faction of Shiv Sena and the ‘flaming torch’ (mashaal) election symbol was allotted to the Uddhav Thackeray faction for the bypoll in Andheri East assembly constituency in November last year.

    Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday said that the thieves were given the holy “bow and arrow” and that this is their test. “Thieves were given the holy ‘bow and arrow’, similarly the ‘torch’ (mashaal) can be taken away. I challenge them – if they are men, come in front of us even with the stolen ‘bow and arrow’, we will contest the election with the ‘torch’. This is our test, the battle has begun,” Thackeray said.

  • Uddhav calls ECI as slave of BJP, says ‘no more democracy left’

    Express News Service

    MUMBAI: After the blow by the elections commission of India (ECI) for denying him the right over his father’s party and symbol, Uddhav Thackeray said ECI has worked as a slave of the ruling party and the country is now marching towards dictatorship.

    Uddhav Thackeray said that if the elections commission of India was preplanning its decisions in favour of rival factions of Shiv Sena, then why did they do the farce of asking them to submit the affidavits and documents and taking the hearing as well?

    “Before the elections commission order that was uploaded on Friday evening, the BJP leader and union minister and even the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra were boastfully claiming that the ECI will give the order on Shinde’s side. How did these BJP leaders know the order before the ECI decision? It shows that all institutions are manipulated and misused by the BJP. ECI is behaving like slaves and eating the cow dung on the order of their political bosses,” Uddhav Thackeray said.

    He said they had requested ECI not to pass its final order till the Supreme Court passes its final order over the disqualifications of 16 Shiv Sena MLAs.

    “But ECI seems to be in a hurry. What pressure they had I do not know. The byelections are going on, and the election code of conduct is in force till the ECI hurriedly passes the order and declares it. It is very unfortunate that one after another institutions that were earlier called independent institutions are destroyed and made stools in the hand of BJP. The entire world is watching what is happening in India,” Thackeray said. 

    He further added India has been celebrating the 75th year of independence but what is happening in the country is quite shameful.

    “There is no more democracy left. Everything is taken under control by hook or crook. The Indian judiciary is the last ray of hope in our country. India Gandhi at least declared the emergency, she was candid in her conduct, but here without declaring the emergency, all acts of emergency are followed and implemented. But we will go to the people’s court and hope for their support. We will build the Shiv Sena like my father did in the 1960s,” he said.

    He also criticized Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde by calling him a thief. “Today ECI has recognized the thief as king, but they should understand the thief will remain thief only even though he has called the king. We will bounce back. People of Maharashtra will take revenge for the ECI order,” he added.

    MUMBAI: After the blow by the elections commission of India (ECI) for denying him the right over his father’s party and symbol, Uddhav Thackeray said ECI has worked as a slave of the ruling party and the country is now marching towards dictatorship.

    Uddhav Thackeray said that if the elections commission of India was preplanning its decisions in favour of rival factions of Shiv Sena, then why did they do the farce of asking them to submit the affidavits and documents and taking the hearing as well?

    “Before the elections commission order that was uploaded on Friday evening, the BJP leader and union minister and even the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra were boastfully claiming that the ECI will give the order on Shinde’s side. How did these BJP leaders know the order before the ECI decision? It shows that all institutions are manipulated and misused by the BJP. ECI is behaving like slaves and eating the cow dung on the order of their political bosses,” Uddhav Thackeray said.

    He said they had requested ECI not to pass its final order till the Supreme Court passes its final order over the disqualifications of 16 Shiv Sena MLAs.

    “But ECI seems to be in a hurry. What pressure they had I do not know. The byelections are going on, and the election code of conduct is in force till the ECI hurriedly passes the order and declares it. It is very unfortunate that one after another institutions that were earlier called independent institutions are destroyed and made stools in the hand of BJP. The entire world is watching what is happening in India,” Thackeray said. 

    He further added India has been celebrating the 75th year of independence but what is happening in the country is quite shameful.

    “There is no more democracy left. Everything is taken under control by hook or crook. The Indian judiciary is the last ray of hope in our country. India Gandhi at least declared the emergency, she was candid in her conduct, but here without declaring the emergency, all acts of emergency are followed and implemented. But we will go to the people’s court and hope for their support. We will build the Shiv Sena like my father did in the 1960s,” he said.

    He also criticized Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde by calling him a thief. “Today ECI has recognized the thief as king, but they should understand the thief will remain thief only even though he has called the king. We will bounce back. People of Maharashtra will take revenge for the ECI order,” he added.

  • Shiv Sena rift: SC reserves order on reviewing Nabam Rebia verdict to larger bench

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Noting that the issue of reference can’t be considered isolated from facts, the Supreme Court on Friday declined immediate reference of SCs 2016 ruling in Nabam Rebia to a seven-judge bench. 

    SC in Nabam Rebia had ruled that the Assembly speaker cannot proceed with a plea for disqualification of MLAs if a prior notice seeking his removal is a pending decision in the House. 

    The reference was sought by former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray as the judgement had come to the rescue of the rebel MLAs led by Eknath Shinde, now the Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

    The Thackeray faction had sought their disqualification even while a notice of the Shinde group for the removal of Maharashtra Assembly deputy speaker Narhari Sitaram Zirwal, a Thackeray loyalist, was pending before the House.

    While pronouncing the order, CJI DY Chandrachud also said that if reference of the decision in Nabam Rebia to a larger bench is warranted would have to be determined together with the merits of the case and posted the case to be heard on merits from February 21. 

    “The issue of whether a reference to a bench of 7-judges is to be made cannot be considered in the abstract, isolated and divorced from the facts of the case. Whether the principle formulated in Nabam Rebia has an impact on the factual position in the present case needs deliberation. Against the above backdrop, the issue of whether the reference of the decision in Nabam Rebia to a larger bench is warranted would be determined together with the merits of the case. Consequently, the batch of cases is set down for hearing on merits on Tuesday, February 21,” the court said in its order. 

    During the hearing, CJI DY Chandrachud had yesterday opined that bar on the speaker for entertaining a disqualification plea while a resolution for his removal has been issued much be attached since the speaker acts as an adjudicator under the 10th schedule. He also added that this has very serious consequences as finality is also added to adjudication since MLAs lose their seats. CJI further added that the speaker perhaps created a problem himself maybe out of political exigency. 

    NEW DELHI: Noting that the issue of reference can’t be considered isolated from facts, the Supreme Court on Friday declined immediate reference of SCs 2016 ruling in Nabam Rebia to a seven-judge bench. 

    SC in Nabam Rebia had ruled that the Assembly speaker cannot proceed with a plea for disqualification of MLAs if a prior notice seeking his removal is a pending decision in the House. 

    The reference was sought by former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray as the judgement had come to the rescue of the rebel MLAs led by Eknath Shinde, now the Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

    The Thackeray faction had sought their disqualification even while a notice of the Shinde group for the removal of Maharashtra Assembly deputy speaker Narhari Sitaram Zirwal, a Thackeray loyalist, was pending before the House.

    While pronouncing the order, CJI DY Chandrachud also said that if reference of the decision in Nabam Rebia to a larger bench is warranted would have to be determined together with the merits of the case and posted the case to be heard on merits from February 21. 

    “The issue of whether a reference to a bench of 7-judges is to be made cannot be considered in the abstract, isolated and divorced from the facts of the case. Whether the principle formulated in Nabam Rebia has an impact on the factual position in the present case needs deliberation. Against the above backdrop, the issue of whether the reference of the decision in Nabam Rebia to a larger bench is warranted would be determined together with the merits of the case. Consequently, the batch of cases is set down for hearing on merits on Tuesday, February 21,” the court said in its order. 

    During the hearing, CJI DY Chandrachud had yesterday opined that bar on the speaker for entertaining a disqualification plea while a resolution for his removal has been issued much be attached since the speaker acts as an adjudicator under the 10th schedule. He also added that this has very serious consequences as finality is also added to adjudication since MLAs lose their seats. CJI further added that the speaker perhaps created a problem himself maybe out of political exigency. 

  • Statute’s 10th Schedule ‘misused, subverted’: Kapil Sibal

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  Stressing the fact that 10th schedule of the Constitution that deals with disqualification was introduced to provide for disposal of complaints is being ‘misused’ and ‘subverted’ by every government, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal for former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday told Supreme Court that the speaker of the state Legislative Assembly can never act as an unbiased umpire. 

    “History has seen that Speakers always supported their party. Speaker can never act as an unbiased umpire. We had the 10th schedule to cure the constitutional morality and now it’s being subverted by every government. Now new shenanigans is happening,” Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal said.

    Laying emphasis on the fact that the “speaker” as an arbiter under 10th schedule should be “impartial”, CJI D Y Chandrachud said, “What is worrying is if you say speaker can take all action until his disqualification when it is put to vote, the consequence is he can affect his own removal by acting in the motion… that can have an adverse affect.”

    In an attempt to convince the bench for having a re look at SC’s 2016 verdict in Nebam Rabia wherein SC had ruled that assembly speaker cannot proceed with a plea for disqualification of MLAs if a prior notice seeking his removal is pending decision in the House, he said, “impugned observations have created a constitutional hiatus and given an escape route to “constitutional sinners”.

    NEW DELHI:  Stressing the fact that 10th schedule of the Constitution that deals with disqualification was introduced to provide for disposal of complaints is being ‘misused’ and ‘subverted’ by every government, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal for former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday told Supreme Court that the speaker of the state Legislative Assembly can never act as an unbiased umpire. 

    “History has seen that Speakers always supported their party. Speaker can never act as an unbiased umpire. We had the 10th schedule to cure the constitutional morality and now it’s being subverted by every government. Now new shenanigans is happening,” Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal said.

    Laying emphasis on the fact that the “speaker” as an arbiter under 10th schedule should be “impartial”, CJI D Y Chandrachud said, “What is worrying is if you say speaker can take all action until his disqualification when it is put to vote, the consequence is he can affect his own removal by acting in the motion… that can have an adverse affect.”

    In an attempt to convince the bench for having a re look at SC’s 2016 verdict in Nebam Rabia wherein SC had ruled that assembly speaker cannot proceed with a plea for disqualification of MLAs if a prior notice seeking his removal is pending decision in the House, he said, “impugned observations have created a constitutional hiatus and given an escape route to “constitutional sinners”.

  • Amid Maharashtra CM’s appeal for unopposed contest, NCP announces candidate for Assembly bypoll in Pune

    By PTI

    PUNE: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Tuesday said Nana Kate will be its candidate for the upcoming bypoll to Chinchwad Assembly seat in Pune district.

    The announcement comes days after Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said he had requested NCP president Sharad Pawar and leaders of the Congress (both constituents of Maha Vikas Aghadi along with the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena) to honour the political tradition in the state to ensure unopposed bypolls to seats falling vacant due to the death of sitting lawmakers.

    The byelections to Pune’s Chinchwad and Kasba Peth constituencies, scheduled for February 26, have been necessitated due to the death of sitting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs Laxman Jagtap and Mukta Tilak.

    Maharashtra NCP chief Jayant Patil in a tweet on Tuesday said, “NCP’s Nana Kate will be the Maha Vikas Aghadi candidate for the Chinchwad constituency bypoll. We are confident that we will definitely win this election by working together with all constituents of the MVA.”

    On Monday, BJP’s Ashwini Jagtap, the wife of late MLA Laxman Jagtap, filed her nomination for the bypoll to Chinchwad Assembly seat, which represents the Pimpri Chinchwad township in Pune district.

    Besides, BJP’s Hemant Rasne and Congress leader Ravindra Dhangekar have filed their nomination papers for the byelection to Kasba Peth Assembly seat.

    Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Monday said if the Congress assures that the Kasba Peth Assembly bypoll will be unopposed in the event of BJP nominating a member of late MLA Mukta Tilak’s family, then the saffron party will make its official candidate withdraw from the fray.

    Eyebrows were raised over BJP giving a ticket to local leader Rasne, even as Mukta Tilak’s husband said his family members would have completed her work if given a ticket.

    Tuesday is the last day for filing the nominations. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is February 10. Votes will be counted on March 2.

    PUNE: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Tuesday said Nana Kate will be its candidate for the upcoming bypoll to Chinchwad Assembly seat in Pune district.

    The announcement comes days after Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said he had requested NCP president Sharad Pawar and leaders of the Congress (both constituents of Maha Vikas Aghadi along with the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena) to honour the political tradition in the state to ensure unopposed bypolls to seats falling vacant due to the death of sitting lawmakers.

    The byelections to Pune’s Chinchwad and Kasba Peth constituencies, scheduled for February 26, have been necessitated due to the death of sitting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs Laxman Jagtap and Mukta Tilak.

    Maharashtra NCP chief Jayant Patil in a tweet on Tuesday said, “NCP’s Nana Kate will be the Maha Vikas Aghadi candidate for the Chinchwad constituency bypoll. We are confident that we will definitely win this election by working together with all constituents of the MVA.”

    On Monday, BJP’s Ashwini Jagtap, the wife of late MLA Laxman Jagtap, filed her nomination for the bypoll to Chinchwad Assembly seat, which represents the Pimpri Chinchwad township in Pune district.

    Besides, BJP’s Hemant Rasne and Congress leader Ravindra Dhangekar have filed their nomination papers for the byelection to Kasba Peth Assembly seat.

    Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Monday said if the Congress assures that the Kasba Peth Assembly bypoll will be unopposed in the event of BJP nominating a member of late MLA Mukta Tilak’s family, then the saffron party will make its official candidate withdraw from the fray.

    Eyebrows were raised over BJP giving a ticket to local leader Rasne, even as Mukta Tilak’s husband said his family members would have completed her work if given a ticket.

    Tuesday is the last day for filing the nominations. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is February 10. Votes will be counted on March 2.