'Willing To Resign, You Decide': Uddhav Thackeray Makes Strong Statement Amid Betrayals

Mumbai: Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, who heads the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction, on Friday offered to  resign from the post of party chief amidst rebellion within the party.

Thackeray made the statement while delivering a speech at the foundation day celebrations of Shiv Sena in Mumbai. 

‘Will Fight Like A  Strong Mountain’

While addressing party members at the celebration ceremony, Uddhav Thackeray said, “I am willing to step down from the post of the President. You decide.” Stating that he is not someone who runs away from challenges, Thackery told his party members that if they feel that he should step down, he will leave.

“You think Shiv Sena will merge with Congress, it won't. If the allegations being made against me are true, then I will leave my post, but I will not hand over Shiv Sena to any thief; you all should answer those who are doing this to me.”

However, he maintained that he will continue to fight like a “strong mountain” till he heads the party.

This comes after six rebel MPs failed to attend a crucial parliamentary party meeting of Shiv Sena (UBT) in Delhi, dealing a major blow to Uddhav Thackeray's leadership and fuelling speculation of an imminent split in the party's parliamentary wing.

'Shiv Sainiks Not Disheartened'

Boosting the morale of his party workers amid the tense betrayals, Thackeray said that Shiv Sainiks are not “disheartened”, they are fired up. “People might have thought I would see a broken Shiv Sainik, but none of them is like that. These four MPs and all the MLAs have come today. The suffering of everyone is visible today,” he added.

‘I Apologise To Voters’

Uddhav Thackeray also apologised to the voters who had voted for the now-defected Sena (UBT) MPs in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

“These voters voted for us in response to my appeal, Balahsaheb's name. We won these nine seats without using Modi's name,” he stated.

Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai and Rajabhau Waje - the three of the nine Lok Sabha MPs of Shiv Sena (UBT) who did not rebel against the party - were felicitated at the event. 

Who Are The Rebels?

1. Sanjay Jadhav (Parbhani)
2. Bhausaheb Wakchaure (Shirdi)
3. Omraje Nimbalkar (Dharashiv)
4. Sanjay Dina Patil (Mumbai)
5. Sanjay Deshmukh (Yavatmal-Washim)
6. Nagesh Patil Ashtikar (Hingoli)