Mumbai: Following the split in the party a second time in four years, Shiv Sena UBT party president Uddhav Thackeray will embark on a three-day tour to the Lok Sabha constituencies of the rebels.
The aim is to visit local shakhas, connect with grassroot level workers, and review the ground situation.
Six of the nine Sena UBT MPs broke away from the party officially Monday, after which Uddhav Thackeray has decided to meet local workers and party functionaries in the six constituencies whose MPs have rebelled.
His tour will start on 27 June from Yavatmal-Washim (Sanjay Deshmukh) and Hingoli (Nagesh Patil Ashtikar). Then he will proceed to Parbhani (Sanjay Jadhav) and Dharashiv (Omraje Nimbalkar ) on 28 June. And finally he will end his tour in Shirdi (Bhausaheb Waghchowre) on 29 June.
Thackeray already addressed workers in Mumbai North East (Sanjay Dina Patil) Monday.
“Uddhav Saheb has taken it upon himself now. He is doing this tour to meet karyakartas and functionaries because though leaders left due to money, the karyakartas have not gone with them. Shiv Sainiks are still with us. Just the way he spoke in Mumbai North East and met workers there, he will have a dialogue with karyakartas as they are still with Uddhav ji,” party spokesperson Harshal Pradhan told ThePrint.
Uddhav Thackeray tour
Uddhav Thackeray’s tour will see him speaking to grassroot level functionaries. After the second rebellion within the party, party sources say, it is important that grassroot level workers stay motivated and with the party.
“And so he will talk to them personally and try to understand their problems. It is time to give confidence to the karyakartas,” said a Shiv Sena UBT leader.
The tour is being arranged by MP Arvind Sawant in Yavatmal Washim, MLC Ambadas Danve-Hingoli, Parbhani, Dharashiv and MP Sanjay Raut in Shirdi.
Uddhav Thackeray will hold corner sabhas in rural constituencies.
At his first sabha in Mumbai North East, he apologised to voters for fielding Patil in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. “I am not demoralised,” he had said. Thackeray added that “traitors” should be thanked for rejuvenating party workers.
In the rest of the five constituencies as well, Uddhav Thackeray will remind voters and karyakartas that people voted for the rebel MPs due to Uddhav’s influence, the Sena UBT leader quoted above said.
During the Shiv Sena UBT foundation day speech, he had told Shiv Sainiks to focus on the fight ahead. “This tour will help us mobilise grassroot level workers and strengthen our party,” said Pradhan.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)