Mumbai: As details of Sharad Pawar’s criticism of Uddhav Thackeray in his updated autobiography emerged, the Shiv Sena (UBT) maintained that it was the NCP supremo’s personal opinion and will have no impact on the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance.
“Whatever was written about Uddhav Thackeray by Sharad Pawar might be his personal opinion. Very soon Uddhav Thackeray will be giving an interview in (Sena mouthpiece) Saamana and he will answer all questions regarding the same,” Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and MP Sanjay Raut told mediapersons Wednesday.
However, Pawar’s words haven’t gone down well with Sena (UBT) functionaries. Kishori Pednekar, former Mumbai mayor, defended her party chief. “We are too small to comment on what Pawar has to say. He has more knowledge but I don’t think what he said is right,” she told ThePrint.
In his updated autobiography Lok Maze Sangati (People, My Companion), Sharad Pawar — who announced his decision to step down as NCP chief at the book’s release Tuesday — claimed that Uddhav lacked political acumen and did not put up a fight when the Eknath Shinde camp of MLAs rebelled and stepped down from the CM’s post.
The NCP leader further wrote in his book that Uddhav wasn’t as accessible as his father, former Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray. “The ease with which we used to interact with Balasaheb was lacking with Uddhav. I would visit him considering his health and doctor’s appointments. I feel the reason Uddhav took a step back just before the fall of the MVA government was his health,” he wrote.
The Congress, the NCP, and the (then undivided) Shiv Sena had formed the MVA in 2019. Last year, a rebellion by a faction of Sena leaders, led by current Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde, led to the collapse of the MVA government. The Shinde faction then formed the government with support from the BJP, and has since been allotted the Shiv Sena party name by the Election Commission.
Speaking to ThePrint, a Sena (UBT) leader, not wanting to be named, said the party has decided to not speak on Pawar’s comments for now.
“They (NCP) currently have their own internal problems to solve. At this time, we don’t want to add anything more to double their problems…Although what he said is his personal opinion, not necessarily his party’s opinion. I don’t want to say more,” the leader said, possibly referring to Sharad Pawar’s decision to step down as NCP chief in the backdrop of speculation over his nephew Ajit Pawar’s alleged overtures to the BJP.
Former Mumbai mayor Pednekar, quoted earlier, said that while he was CM, Uddhav Thackeray was not going to Mantralaya regularly because of his health issues. “Uddhav Thackeray had his reasons. Why would anyone who was on such a high post not go to Mantralaya? For us, we know what Uddhav ji is and what he did was because of his health.”
The Sena (UBT) leader mentioned earlier said that Uddhav had been accepted by the masses. “If his tenure was that objectionable, would he have been voted as one of the top CMs in the country? His work during Covid is also applauded. How is he a failure?” the leader asked.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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