Raj Thackeray resigns from party posts

     Mumbai: Raj Thackeray, the Shiv Sena leader and nephew of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, today announced his resignation from party posts and said that he would not join any other political party, nor would he become the reason for his party's downfall in the future. Announcing his resignation from all the posts of the Shiv Sena, including the post of executive member of the Shiv Sena Working Committee, Raj Thackeray said, "I have all the regards for Balasaheb Thackeray...he is like a God for me." He was speaking to reporters at Mumbai airport on his arrival from Nasik amid speculation that he might leave the Shiv Sena and form a separate Sena, as he had been having differences with his cousin and Bal Thackeray's son, Uddhav Thackeray. Claiming that throughout his life he had done all that was required to strengthen the party fold, Raj trained his guns at Uddhav saying - "It appears that Uddhav and his supporters are hell bent on finishing the party." Coming down heavily on his ex-party fellow and Rajya Sabha MP, Sanjay Nirupam for extending him an invitation to join the Congress, Raj said that when he (Nirupam) himself had not been able to settle down in the Congress "he had no locus standi to invite others". Reports of sharp differences between Raj and Uddhav Thackeray are nothing new, and they assumed significance since last week when the party chief had announced his semi-retirement from active politics, saying that he would not address political rallies, except the annual party rally on the occasion of Dussehera at Shivaji Park.

     With efforts so far going in vain to end the crisis between Raj and his elder cousin and working President Uddhav, senior Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi said on Saturday that the issue could be resolved only by party supremo Bal Thackeray. The dispute had cropped up when Raj expressed dissatisfaction with Uddhav over the way the two bye-elections were handled by him. In Malwan Assembly constituency, Shiv Sena's Parshuram Uparkar was defeated by former Sena leader and Maharashtra Revenue Minister Narayan Rane, while in North-West Mumbai Lok Sabha constituency late Sunil Dutt s daughter Priya Dutt had defeated veteran Shiv Sena leader Madhukar Sarpotdar by 1,72,053 votes. Angered with the party's performance, Raj sent a letter to Bal Thackeray apparently seeking Uddhav to own responsibility for the debacle. Responding to Raj's action, Uddhav had said that there was no uncertainty in the party. However, later after a meeting with senior party leaders, he said that he was not responsible for the controversy. However, with Raj's arrival in Mumbai today and of him having a possible meeting with Bal Thackeray, the issue may be resolved. But the question that looms large over Maharashtra is the means an ill Bal Thackeray would adopt to get a solution to safeguard the future of the Shiv Sena.

Uddhav lacks leadership quality: Narayan Rane

     Expressing doubt on the leadership quality of Uddhav Thackery, former Shiv Sena leader and Revenue Minister of Maharashtra Govt, Narayan Rane said that common masses of the State might not like Uddhav as their leader. "Udbhav Thackerey does not have the quality to be a leader. So, how will he lead a party? I don't think the general mass will also like to have him as a leader," said Rane while addressing a gathering here on Saturday evening. He also hinted that more Shiv Sena members would join the Congress soon. "There is so much of infighting going on within Shiv Sena. More party men will leave the party and join the Congress. Talks are on," he added. Infighting between party working President Udhab Thackery and his younger cousin Raj Thackery is not new in Shiv Sena. The latest feud cropped up when Raj expressed dissatisfaction with Uddhav over the way the bye-elections in Malwan Assembly and North-West Mumbai Lok Sabha constituencies were handled by him. There is speculation that Raj may launch his own regional party.