As the political deadlock in Maharashtra continues for the fourth day on Friday, 24 June, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray challenged rebel MLAs to successfully run the Shiv Sena without using Bal Thackeray's name.
In an online address to Shiv Sena district heads, post holders, and workers, Thackeray also said that he is "silent, but not weak," ABP Majha reported.
Here are the key highlights of Uddhav Thackeray's address:
"When they asked me if I wanted to go to Varsha or Matoshree after my surgery, I opted for Matoshree."
"I quit temptation by leaving Varasha, not the determination to fight. There are many who said I should not have left. The things that don't belong to us are best left. I had never dreamt of living in Varsha."
"If you say Bal Thackeray's Sena is over, it should have ended in 2012. The Sena came to power twice after that and he [Eknath Shinde] was made a minister both times. He was given big portfolios which usually are held by CMs."
"Some party MPs and MLAs said two days ago that they won't go even if they are mutilated and are in Assam today."
"Challenge you to separate the Thackerays from the Shiv Sena and run it successfully. If you don't want to use my pictures, never mind. But I challenge you to run the Shiv Sena without using Bal Thackeray's name or picture."
"I have said it earlier also that I don't have anything to do with power. The people who used to say that they would rather die than leave Shiv Sena have fled today," ANI reported, quoting Uddhav Thackeray.
Thackeray further blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the unrest and said that the rebel MLAs have taken advantage of his unavailability due to his health issues.
He further said that he will not tolerate the use of unparliamentary language against his family.
This is Thackeray's second address amid the ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra. In the first on Wednesday, he said that he was ready to resign as the state's chief minister if the disgruntled MLAs say they do not want him in the post.
He also said that he was willing to quit as the Sena chief.
Latest Developments in the Maharashtra Crisis
On Friday, several reports suggested that rebel minister Eknath Shinde had left the hotel in Assam to go to Mumbai.
A day earlier, all 37 Shiv Sena rebel MLAs in Guwahati said in a letter to deputy Assembly Speaker Narhari Zirwal that Shinde would remain their group leader in the legislature.
Shinde had at least 36 Sena legislators with him in Assam, taking the total number of rebel Sena MLAs to 37. This is the crucial two-thirds majority of the party’s strength in the legislature, required to split the Sena without falling afoul of the anti-defection law.
If Shinde can get 37 Sena MLAs to move with him to the BJP, he could topple the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.
(With inputs from ANI and ABP Manjha.)
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