Kamal Ghorui
MUMBAI: Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde exchanged veiled remarks in the Maharashtra legislative council on Tuesday, as the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader was given a farewell marking the end of his term.Shinde initiated the farewell motion, addressing his former party chief as “Uddhav saheb Thackeray” and saying there are no full-stops in politics, while extending his wishes.The two leaders have avoided naming each other directly since their split in June 2022, when Shinde rebelled against Thackeray’s leadership, leading to the fall of the latter’s government.
During his remarks, Shinde appeared to draw a contrast with Thackeray while speaking about deputy chairperson Neelam Gorhe, saying she was not born with a silver spoon in her mouth. Both Shinde and Gorhe had worked under the leadership of Bal Thackeray.In his response, Thackeray made a cryptic remark, saying, “Bulls are being slaughtered for selfish reasons.”The comment was seen as an oblique reference to a controversy involving self-styled godman Ashok Kharat, who was recently arrested for allegedly raping a woman on the pretext of performing rituals. Photographs of Shinde visiting a temple built by Kharat in Nashik had surfaced after the arrest.Leaders of the Sena (UBT) have also previously alleged that bulls were sacrificed at a temple in Guwahati when Shinde and his faction travelled to Assam following the 2022 split.The council also bid farewell to several other members, including Gorhe, Amol Mitkari, Shashikant Shinde, Rajesh Rathod, and BJP leaders Dadarao Keche, Sanjay Kanekar, Ranjeet Sinh Mohite-Patil and Sandeep Joshi.
Temperament was not like that of a typical politician: Fadnavis
Earlier, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis recalled his long association with Thackeray, dating back to their alliance when the undivided Shiv Sena and the BJP were partners.“We developed friendship. I will not say it is not there (now),” Fadnavis said.He added that Thackeray’s temperament was not like that of a typical politician.“Many a time he (Thackeray) is seen clashing, launching a strong attack, counter attack. But this is not his original temperament. His original temperament is measured and maintaining relations,” he said.In his farewell speech, Thackeray responded, “If you knew me so well then why did you hold someone else’s hand,” referring to the BJP’s alliance with Shinde after the 2022 split.Thackeray also called for the appointment of Leaders of Opposition in both houses of the state legislature, despite the opposition lacking the required numbers.The six-year term of the members ends in May, and the farewell took place on the penultimate day of the ongoing budget session.
