Uddhav Thackeray: His son is MP, but my son shouldn't get anything?

MUMBAI: With Shiv Sena filing disqualification petitions against four more rebel MLAs before Maharashtra assembly deputy speaker Narhari Zirwal, the total number of disqualifications sought have gone up to 16.

Zirwal has asked the rebel legislators to reply to the disqualification notice within 48 hours. However, two Independent legislators, Mahesh Baldi and Vinod Agarwal, wrote to Zirwal, saying he could not adjudicate on the petitions since there was a no-confidence motion pending against him.

Even as the Sena continued to haemorrhage, losing key MLAs like Mumbai’s Chandivali legislator Dilip Lande to the rebel faction, party MP Sanjay Raut challenged the rebels. “We are not the sort to get defeated. What you did was wrong. We gave you the opportunity to come here but now your time is up,” he said. “We are ready. We challenge you to come to Mumbai and face us.” By afternoon, Sena cadres took to the streets in some areas, tearing posters and attacking offices of the rebels.

The rebel faction says it will not leave Guwahati before resolving two issues. “If these 16 MLAs are disqualified by the deputy speaker, we will challenge it in court. It is mandatory to hear the MLAs before the deputy speaker takes a decision,” said rebel MLA Deepak Kesarkar.

He also said the rebel faction will legally challenge the appointment of the Shiv Sena’s Sunil Prabhu as chief whip of the legislature party. “We have the support of 38 MLAs and the Sena’s chief whip must be from our group,” said Kesarkar. In total, the rebel faction claims the support of 50 MLAs, including Independents.

Another warning for the rebels came from Sena’s Neelam Gorhe, who said the dissidents could not take over the party and would have to merge with another party. “In order to escape the anti-defection law, the rebels will have to merge with either BJP or Bachchu Kadu’s Prahaar Janshakti Party,” she said.

She also said it will be difficult for the dissidents to get the Sena’s name or party symbol. “The Shiv Sena party and its group in the legislature are not the same thing. Our party is registered with the Election Commission. In order to make a bid for recognition, the rival faction will have to poll a certain percentage of votes in successive elections,” she said.

In a bid to keep its flock together, the Shiv Sena called a meeting of its district chiefs at Sena Bhavan. In an emotional speech delivered virtually, CM Thackeray goaded the rebels. “Try and run the party after removing the Shiv Sena and Thackeray name,” he said.

Taking on Shinde, he said, “He was given key posts including the urban development department. His son is an MP but my son should not get anything?” He said it was good to be ambitious but not to have “demonic ambitions” that attack those that give you opportunities. “You can break the fruits and flowers of a tree, but you cannot cut its roots,” Thackeray said.

Lashing out at BJP, he said it was behind the revolt. “I can never sit by the side of those who have made terrible allegations against Matoshree (the Thackeray family home) and my family,” he said. He warned the dissidents that BJP would use and discard them.

Thackeray also said the cadre should be prepared to rebuild the party from scratch. “Stay with me if you have that determination. But if you are concerned about your future, you can join the rebels. If you feel I am incapable, I am ready to leave this post now,” he said amid slogans from the crowd.

Meanwhile, his son and environment minister Aaditya Thackeray said there had been murmurs of discontent from the rebels for a year. “How much importance should one give the rebels? They have been sold. Our own people have betrayed us,” he said. He also accused the dissidents of taking advantage of his father’s illness.