Uddhav Thackeray Stands Firm: No Return For ‘Traitors’ Who Betrayed His Shiv Sena Back In 2022

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray declared on Sunday that he would not accept the return of MLAs and leaders who defected to the rival Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde for personal gain. However, he expressed his willingness to welcome back those who were forced to join Shinde's faction. Thackeray made this statement during an event where former Dombivli corporator Dipesh Mhatre, along with seven other former corporators, rejoined the Thackeray-led Shiv Sena.

Thackeray was clear in his stance, stating, "I will allow the return of office-bearers and local leaders but will not take back the traitor MLAs who left for power and money." Mhatre, who initially supported Shinde when the party split in 2022, was serving as the state secretary of Yuva Sena. He, along with his supporters, was formally welcomed back to the party by Thackeray at his residence in Bandra East. Mhatre is expected to be the Sena (UBT) candidate for the Dombivli assembly constituency, currently held by BJP minister Ravindra Chavan.

Thackeray emphasized that only local leaders and party workers, who were forced to leave, would be accepted back, not those responsible for toppling his government. "Many local leaders and workers were pressured to leave, but now they wish to return. I will welcome them. However, I will never allow the return of those who betrayed the party for money and power," he said.

He further explained that many leaders, like Mhatre, had been misled into thinking Thackeray's faction had abandoned the core ideology of party founder Balasaheb Thackeray and Hindutva. "Some of these leaders are now realising they were misguided and are returning to the party," he added.

Thackeray also took the opportunity to urge his supporters to strengthen the party's base in Kalyan-Dombivli, which he described as a stronghold of Shiv Sena and Hindutva. He encouraged them to undo the damage caused by the defectors. Referring to Mhatre's return, Thackeray remarked, "I am happy to welcome Dipesh and his supporters. But now he has to work even harder for the party's cause in Dombivli and Kalyan."

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde responded sharply to Thackeray's remarks, particularly those aimed at his son, MP Shrikant Shinde. Addressing a public gathering later in the day, Shinde challenged Thackeray, saying, "Why are you attacking my son? If you have the courage, fight me, not him." Shinde also defended his government, stating that the fall of the MVA government had enabled the people of Maharashtra to benefit from various schemes, and he was confident the public would recognise this in the upcoming elections.