The Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena is still grappling with the shock of losing its MLAs to Eknath Shinde and yet it has decided to form a brave front. When News18 met former minister and Uddhav Thackeray’s son, Aaditya, during a brief conversation, the Yuva Sena leader exuded confidence of winning back the cadre and leaders.
Having portrayed this, one can now see a well thought out approach to show his “extreme discontent” to Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who let down Uddhav Thackeray and brought down the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.
When News18 asked Aaditya about Shiv Sena’s plans after Shinde won the trust vote, the young leader said that there is nothing that can stop Shiv Sena (his camp).
“Only on and on,” Aditya told News18, not wanting to reveal his next course of action.
On his fight for the party’s election symbol, Aditya took a pause and said “be patient” before swiftly exiting the assembly complex in Mumbai.
Aditya has clearly intensified his fight against those who “stabbed in the back” and made no bones of showing it on camera.
On two key occasions – the first the election of the speaker, and the second a vote of confidence for the Shinde government – Aaditya walked out of the assembly proceedings when the new CM rose to speak.
The former minister also took the opportunity to express his displeasure with one of Shiv Sagar’s rebel leaders, Prakash Surve, in the presence of the media. In one of the videos, Aditya was seen confronting Surve for supporting Shinde.
“What would you tell your voters? We thought you were coming back to us. You were one of us. Didn’t expect this from you. There is so much love that we, all of us, have for you. We share a special bond and I personally felt bad,” said Aditya.
His remarks came hours after Shiv Sena leader Santosh Bangar of the Uddhav Thackeray faction was found on his way to the assembly along with the rival Shinde camp in a bus ahead of the trust vote.
A few days before the trust vote, Bangar was seen crying and said to have tears in his eyes after what happened to Uddhav Thackeray. Bangar rallies for Uddhav and urges him to carry on despite the betrayal.
According to sources, the father-son duo is holding hour-long meetings with the rest of the MLAs, supporting the ‘branch heads’ and corporators to decide the way forward.
“Many people have told us that this is the end of Shiv Sena. This is Balasaheb’s legacy and it is for eternity,” a Shiv Sena councilor from south Mumbai told News18. The leader also confirmed that the Uddhav-led army group has decided to take the BMC elections and use the results to show their strength and influence.
The rebellion within the Shiv Sena, which has formed two camps over who is the real pioneer of Balasaheb Thackeray’s legacy, has clearly stunned the cadre.
A Shiv Sena corporator told News18 that although the cadre is shaken, they are very clear on whose side they are on. “Shiv Sainiks are with Uddhav Thackeray. They know what their leader Uddhav has done. The cadre also feels disappointed. We know what needs to be done now,” the leader said.
On the future prospects of the young leader, another Shiv Sena leader said that Aaditya has been tasked to hold the cadre together and bring back his lost glory of his grandfather, Bal Thackeray, ideologies and dreams.
Interestingly, after the fall of the MVA-led government, one of the first posts by Aaditya was the departure of his father and former chief minister, Uddhav. Aditya wrote, “It is important to always follow the right steps.”
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