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Patch up in Shiv Sena |
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Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray has intervened to patch up the differences between his son and party executive president Uddhav Thackeray and his nephew, Raj Thackeray. The public spat between the two cousins was threatening to give another blow to the party after former Chief Minister Narayan Rane was expelled from the party. The two youngmen had a three-hour close-door meeting with Bal Thackeray on August 17 after which they told the media that their differences had been sorted out. They pledged to work for the party welfare. Raj Thackeray said they had cleared their doubts and misunderstanding in the presence of Bal Thackeray. However, the cousins declined to give clarifications when asked by the media. Reports say that the party has agreed to consult Raj Thackeray before decisions are taken.
Before Raj Thackeray made a brief statement to the media, former Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi said it was a happy day for the party. He was trying to resolve the differences between the cousins. “Bal Thackeray has given his blessings to both of them,” Joshi said.
The crisis in the Shiv Sena erupted after Raj Thackeray’s trip to the Konkan region. On his return, he alleged that Uddhav had sent Sainiks (party cadres) to the region, causing tension.
Observers say that the current trouble in the Shiv Sena originated in the Narayan Rane crisis. Rane brought to light the division in the Shiv Sena between the cadre and the power wielding leadership. When Raj Thackeray chose to skip the former Shiv Sena leader stronghold Kankawali from his tour of the Konkan region, supporters of Uddhav Thackeray voiced their protest. The party organ, Saamna, wrote that Raj Thackeray should have defied the police and courted arrest rather than skip Narayan Rane’s constituency. Raj Thackeray on his part blamed Uddhav Thackeray for sending a large number of Shiv sainiks from Mumbai for the tour, creating a law and order situation.
How long the truce between Uddhav and Raj will last, is anybody’s guess.
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