Page 4 - Uddhav Thackeray

Amid call for alliance, Uddhav Thackeray meets VBA chief Prakash Ambedkar

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray on Monday met Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) chief Prakash Ambedkar in Mumbai and said the alliance will be decided after fixing certain small issues. Reacting to Thackeray's remarks, Ambedkar said the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction will take a call on whether to induct the VBA into the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) or forge a separate alliance. He also said the expression "positive discussion" used by Thackeray while speaking to reporters about the meeting has no meaning but is akin to postponing (a decision on alliance). Earlier in the day, Thackeray and Ambedkar held a meeting in Mumbai. "The meeting with Ambedkar was a positive one. We will soon resolve the small issues and make an announcement regarding the alliance," Thackeray told reporters. Reacting to Thackeray's remarks, Ambedkar said the outcome of the meeting is perceived to be positive. "But I don't understand the meaning of the phrase 'positive discussion'. It is Shiv Sena (UB

ShivShakti meets BhimShakti as political alignments change in Maharashtra

Political alignments in Maharashtra that had fallen into disrepair are being revived by Uddhav Thackeray and Prakash Ambedkar. Dhaval Kulkarni investigates the prospects - and the problems

Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena slams Rijiju's comments on collegium system

The Uddhav Thackeray-led faction of the Shiv Sena on Thursday said Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju has crossed the Laxman Resha by commenting on the collegium system of appointment of judges, and he should resign. An editorial in the party mouthpiece 'Saamana' alleged that the Narendra Modi government wants to control all important institutions including the judiciary. It wants people of its ideology in the judiciary and is trying to destroy democracy, Parliament and opposition leaders. For this, the government wants its people in the high courts, Supreme Court and also among prosecutors, it said. Rijiju recently called as "opaque" the present Supreme Court collegium system through which judges are appointed. "The basic fault with the present collegium system is that the judges are recommending those colleagues whom they know. Obviously, they would not recommend a judge they do not know," Rijiju had said. The Sena mouthpiece said it was clear that the law minister had crossed the

Shinde can't challenge Karnataka CM on Maharashtra villages claim: Uddhav

Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday said Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has no courage to speak against his Karnataka counterpart. Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai's claim that several border villages in Maharashtra once sought to be become part of his state has triggered a row. Have we lost our courage as Karnataka chief minister is easily making claims on Maharashtra villages," Thackeray said, taking a swipe at Shinde. "Is Karnataka CM having any blessings from Delhi? Does the Centre also want the same thing? Thackeray, a former chief minister, said while speaking to reporters. NCP chief Sharad Pawar, meanwhile, said that the Bharatiya Janata Party "can not run away from Karnataka issue." "If Karnataka wants to return Nipani, Belgaum villages, then only some exchange can be worked out," he added. Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, countered the jibes by opposition on the Maharashtra-Karnataka dispute by saying that the the ...

Take back 'Amazon parcel': Uddhav Thackeray wants Centre to recall Maha Guv

The Shiv Sena leader also exhorted all 'Maharashtra lovers' to protest the governor's remarks on Shivaji

Savarkar helped Godse find 'efficient gun' to kill Gandhi ji: Tushar Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi's great grandson Tushar Gandhi has claimed freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar had helped Nathuram Godse find an "efficient gun" to assassinate the Father of the Nation. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Maharashtra termed Tushar Gandhi's comments as unfounded. In a series of tweets on Sunday, Tushar Gandhi said, "Savarkar not only helped the British, he also helped Nathuram Godse find an efficient gun to murder Bapu. Till two days before Bapu's murder (on January 30, 1948), Godse did not have a reliable weapon to carry out the murder of M K Gandhi." The activist-author also claimed Prabodhankar Thackeray, the father of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray and grandfather of former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, had forewarned the Mahatma's companions about a plot to kill the Father of the Nation. In this context, Tushar Gandhi went on to criticise "leaders of Sanatani Hindus" Savarkar and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar. "When in 193

Uddhav hints at alliance with Dr B R Ambedkar's grandson Prakash Ambedkar

Former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, who heads a faction of the Shiv Sena, on Sunday alleged that the country was moving towards dictatorship and said he was ready to join hands with anyone who protect freedom. Thackeray said this during an event, where he shared the stage with Dr B R Ambedkar's grandson Prakash Ambedkar, chief of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), for the first time, and hinted at joining hands with him. The two leaders were together at the launch of Prabhodhankar.com, a digital platform to highlight the work of Thackeray's grandfather 'Prabhodhankar' Keshav Sitaram Thackeray. Speaking on the occasion, Thackeray said, "The country is moving towards dictatorship. There is a need to throw out people who are greedy for power. I am willing to join hands with those who want to protect freedom." "At present, the British policy of divide-and-rule is being followed," he said. Thackeray described Prakash Ambedkar as a person full of knowledge and ...

Uddhav must dump Cong over Rahul's Savarkar remarks: Union minister Danve

Union minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Raosaheb Danve on Saturday said Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray must break his party's alliance with the Congress over Rahul Gandhi's remarks on Hindutva ideologue and freedom fighter VD savarkar. Rahul Gandhi, whose Bharat Jodo Yatra is currently passing through Maharashtra, on Thursday held a press conference at Wadegaon in Akola district, where he claimed Savarkar helped the British rulers and wrote a mercy petition to them out of fear, thereby betraying Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, Jawaharlal Nehru and other leaders of the freedom struggle. "Thackeray and his son Aaditya must announce if they intend to break the alliance with the Congress. Balasaheb Thackeray spread the message of Swatantryaveer Savarkar across Maharashtra, and now his son and grandson are sitting with a party that insults the freedom fighter," Danve told reporters. Slamming Rahul Gandhi, the Union minister said, "Such statements have come from a ..

Maharashtra governor calls Shivaji 'Old Idol', draws Uddhav Sena fury

An emotive and iconic figure in Maharashtra, transcending political affiliations, the governor's remark on the Maratha warrior did not go down well with leaders

Day after release from jail, Sena MP Sanjay Raut meets Uddhav Thackeray

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut met his party chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday, a day after the Rajya Sabha member's release from jail in a money laundering case. Uddhav Thackeray's son and former Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray greeted Raut outside the Thackerays' private residence 'Matoshree' in suburban Bandra. Talking to reporters earlier in the day, Raut said former state chief minister Uddhav Thackeray stood by his family members while he was in jail. The Rajya Sabha member also claimed his arrest was political and that such kind of vendetta politics was not seen in the country earlier. After his release from Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail on Wednesday evening, Raut said he spoke to Uddhav Thackeray over phone and the latter's voice became heavy, implying an emotional interaction between them. Raut and Uddhav Thackeray are known to be close associates. A special court in Mumbai granted bail to Rajya Sabha member Raut on Wednesday, saying his arrest was illegal and a ...

Of pride, prejudice, 'lost' projects: Maharashtra politics take a new turn

Politics in Maharashtra could be taking a new turn with the division in Shiv Sena that gives BJP unparalleled leverage, but also rekindles the idea of Marathi manoos

Uddhav asks party workers to be ready for mid-term polls in Maharashtra

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday predicted mid-term elections in Maharashtra and asked party workers to start preparations. He was speaking at a meeting of the party's Assembly constituency-level functionaries at the party headquarters 'Sena Bhavan' here. The Shiv Sena (UBT) chief spokesperson Arvind Sawant briefed reporters about the meeting. Thackeray predicted mid-term Assembly elections in the state soon and asked the cadres to start preparations, Sawant said. Mid-term polls were inevitable as Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced projects worth Rs 2 lakh crore for Maharashtra, Sawant said. "Just like voters in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat are being lured with packages and announcements, this announcement by the PM is also an indicator that Maharashtra will have elections," said the South Mumbai MP. But there was no clarity about the details of the projects the PM was talking about, he added. The term of the Maharashtra

Hasty projects' inaugurals spell disasters like Morbi: Shiv Sena (UBT)

Shiv Sena (UBT) has drawn attention of PM Modi at the rash inaugurals of various incomplete/semi-complete infrastructure projects all over India which can result in monumental disasters like Morbi

Morbi bridge tragedy an act of fraud or mere accident, asks Uddhav faction

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction on Tuesday said the Gujarat government cannot shirk its responsibility for the loss of lives in Morbi bridge collapse and asked whether it should be termed as an "act of fraud, conspiracy or a mere accident". When a similar incident took place in West Bengal in 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had slammed that state government and called it an act of God, an editorial in the Thackeray camp's mouthpiece 'Saamana' said. The Marathi daily also questioned the quality of renovation of the Morbi suspension bridge, which was opened for the public four days before it collapsed. The suspension bridge on the Machchhu river in Gujarat's Morbi city collapsed on Sunday evening, killing 134 people, a senior police official earlier said. "Will the lives lost come back? The company responsible for the maintenance of the bridge should be probed, but the Gujarat government cannot shirk its responsibility, the editorial in Saamana said. Should this incide

Maharashtra minister blames MVA for Tata-Airbus project moving to Gujarat

Maharashtra Industries Minister Uday Samant on Saturday said the previous Maha Vikas Agahdi government under Uddhav Thackeray did not take any decision on the Tata-Airbus military transport aircraft project, the moving of which to neighbouring Gujarat had started a political slugfest in the state. Airbus and a consortium of Tata firms have chosen Vadodara in Gujarat as the site for the 22,000 crore project, leading to the opposition accusing the Eknath Shinde-Bharatiya Janata Party government of ensuring yet another big project had moved away from Maharashtra. Samant said no meeting on the project was held with Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation, the state government's nodal investment promotion agency, while talks had taken place at the "local level" with MIHAN, also called 'Multi Modal International Passenger and Cargo Hub Airport at Nagpur. "No discussion was held by the (previous) government with regards to Airbus. I can say with responsibility there is no official .

BJP slams Uddhav Thackeray for 'Marathi Muslim' article in 'Saamana'

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday accused the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) of indulging in the politics of appeasement after the latter's mouthpiece 'Saamana' carried an article on "Marathi Muslims" supporting the former chief minister. 'Saamana' carried a front-page article on October 22 about the Marathi Muslim Seva Sangh backing Uddhav Thackeray, adding that the outfit is active in Mumbai, Konkan, Marathwada, Vidarbha and western Maharashtra. "The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Party wants to garner Marathi and Muslim votes, but it cleverly played with the words by calling them Marathi Muslims," Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar said at a press conference. He said his party would organise 'Jagar Mumbaicha Yatra' in November to spread awareness among the residents of the metropolis about this "politics of appeasement" as well as "corruption" in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. Shelar said Thackeray was getting frustrated as he was staring at defeat in the BMC .

Uddhav Thackeray likely to join Bharat Jodo Yatra in Maharashtra: Report

Shiv Sena-UBT President and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is likely to join Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Bharat Jodo Yatra when it reaches the state

Downpour of announcements, drought in implementation:Uddhav slams Maha govt

Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday demanded the Maharashtra government declare "wet drought" in the state and provide Rs 50,000 per hectare as compensation to farmers affected by rains without waiting for the loss assessment reports. In a dig, Thackeray said there is a downpour of announcements under the Eknath Shinde government and a "drought" in their implementation as he interacted with rain-hit farmers in Aurangabad district. He said the incumbent government loved to organise celebrations without bothering to see if people are happy and satisfied. The former chief minister was talking to reporters after visiting Pandharpur and Dahegaon villages in the Aurangabad district where retreating rain damaged crops. "This state government is a celebration-loving government. There is an excess downpour of the announcement, whereas there is a drought in their implementation. Events should be celebrated but the government should see the people in the state are at least satisfie

Uddhav Thackeray to tour flood-hit areas of Aurangabad on Sunday

Amid the Opposition clamour to declare a 'wet drought' in Maharashtra, ex- CM Uddhav Thackeray will go on a tour of the flood-hit regions of Aurangabad on Sunday for a first-hand assessment

Not just future of Shiv Sena but democracy at stake: Uddhav Thackeray

Former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, who is fighting a legal battle to claim the legacy of the Shiv Sena founded by his father late Bal Thackeray, on Thursday claimed that not just the future of party but democracy in the country was at stake. Thackeray was addressing a function at the Shiv Sena Bhavan in Dadar area of Mumbai where he inducted former minister Sanjay Deshmukh from Yavatmal into his faction. Addressing a gathering after the induction, Thackeray said despite claims that the Shiv Sena had split and was finished, people were still coming to him. The Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government collapsed in June this year after a rebellion led by MLA Eknath Shinde. Shinde was later sworn in as the chief minister with the BJP's support. The Election Commission earlier this month barred the Shiv Sena factions led by Thackeray and Shinde from using the party name and its election symbol 'bow and arrow' in the November 3 Andheri East Assembly bypoll. It allott