Insult To Uddhav Is Maharashtra’s Humiliation, Says Shinde Sena

Politics in Maharashtra, nowadays, is dominated by unexpected happenings. The latest to test this phenomenon is Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray and his spokesman Sanjay Raut. The incident concerned is an INDIA bloc meet in New Delhi on Thursday.  Attended by about a hundred top opposition personalities, Uddhav, his son Aaditya and Raut were seen sitting in the last row at the venue, which was Rahul Gandhi’s residence. As soon as the clips of the meet were flashed by TV channels, detractors of Uddhav and his Sena were overjoyed. Seizing the opportunity to throw barbs at the adversary, they demeaned Uddhav for gulping such ‘an insult to Maharashtra’ by agreeing to sit in such an insignificant place. A silent protest was held in Mumbai to ‘apologise’ to Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray in front of his statue for his son’s meek acceptance of this humiliation. Significantly, just a few hours ago, Uddhav had declared in the national capital that no third party would be involved in his Sena’s alliance with cousin Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena for the coming local body elections. Uddhav’s announcement is interpreted as a signal to the Congress party that it should not depend on the Sena (UBT) for the show of strength. Given the way politics in Delhi is played, deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde’s Sena has lost no time in capitalising on the incident. A retaliation by Uddhav is on the cards.