BJP's Attempt to 'Steal Another Thackeray': Uddhav On MNS Chief's Meet With Amit Shah

As MNS Chief Raj Thackeray meets Amit Shah, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray claimed that the BJP is trying to "steal" a "Thackeray" to win elections.

Raj Thackeray arrived in Delhi on Monday and reportedly held talks with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, including talks about seat-sharing on Tuesday. Political observers suggest that if he joins hands with the NDA, it could potentially bolster the ruling alliance's position against the influence of his estranged cousin, Uddhav Thackeray.

Uddhav currently leads one faction of the Shiv Sena and is a key figure in the Maha Vikas Aghadi, the opposition alliance in the state, while Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde leads another faction.

Speaking at a gathering in Nanded district, Uddhav Thackeray said he is not bothered if the BJP took away his estranged cousin.

"BJP knows very well that they don't get votes in the name of PM Narendra Modi in Maharashtra. People vote here in the name of (Bal) Thackeray. This realisation prompted the BJP to try to steal leaders from outside (BJP fold)," he said.

He accused the BJP of attempting to claim the legacy of Bal Thackeray, denouncing their assertion that the BJP seed is "bogus." "First, they stole the photo of Bal Thackeray, but it doesn't matter. Today, they are trying to steal another Thackeray....take it, I and my people are enough," he said.

Uddhav Thackeray, whose party is part of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi and the INDIA bloc, said that even Christians and Muslims do not take issue with his version of Hindutva.

"The image of Shiv Sena (undivided) was getting sullied when we were with the BJP. But since we severed ties with them, even members of Christian and Muslim communities are saying that they have no issues with our Hindutva ideology," he added.

Raj Thackeray walked out of the Shiv Sena, citing differences with Uddhav, and established the MNS in 2006. Despite being recognized as a formidable speaker with a dedicated following, his party, the MNS, has struggled to leave a big impact in Maharashtra politics.