'I keep two pens..,' Shinde reacts to Uddhav Thackeray's remark on ‘Traitor Day’
2 min read 20 Jun 2023, 08:17 AM ISTFollowing the division within the Shiv Sena, Shinde has consistently asserted himself as the rightful successor of Balasaheb's legacy.
PremiumShiv Sena's foundation day led to a series of retaliatory speeches and events on Monday, as the divided party's factions competed for the legacy of their founder, Balasaheb Thackeray. Former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray accused his successor Eknath Shinde of ‘stealing’ his father's name.
In response, Shinde shared a video clip of Balasaheb Thackeray affirming his refusal to align with the Congress. "We will reply to them by celebrating Revolution Day tomorrow... it will be celebrated every year and every shakha (branch) of Shiv Sena," said Shinde.
Shinde further noted, "All the people present here -- you know how many signatures the Chief Minister signed in the last two-and-a-half years? I do many times more than that. I clear files in a day. When I travel in the car, I sign all the files. The previous Chief Minister did not even keep a pen with him, I keep two pens".
During a party conclave held in Worli, a constituency represented by his son and former minister Aaditya Thackeray, Uddhav Thackeray delivered a critical speech.
"Tomorrow is the traitor day. It will be one year of betrayal by the traitors. In this one year, they stole our name on the papers, and tried to steal my father's name as well. Still, they have to mention Uddhav Thackeray's name in every speech. You (Eknath Shinde) can steal credit for the Ram temple. But instead of chanting the name of Ram, you chant the name of Uddhav Thackeray," he said.
Uddhav Thackeray further questioned about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the United States, suggesting that considering the situation in Manipur, the Prime Minister should have prioritized visiting Manipur instead of New York and Washington. "It is no big deal for PM Modi, who had conducted surgical strikes inside Pakistan… you should have shown some respect -- at least should have gone to Mantralay from Varsha," he added.
The Shiv Sena, established on June 19, 1966, by Balasaheb Thackeray, was founded with the aim of promoting Marathi pride. The party gained prominence through an extensive and challenging "Sons of the Soil" movement, advocating for job opportunities for locals in the face of tough competition from migrants from other states. At one point, the Shiv Sena held significant control over Mumbai.
Following the division within the Shiv Sena, Shinde has consistently asserted himself as the rightful successor of Balasaheb's legacy. Uddhav Thackeray, on the other hand, has faced repeated criticism for deviating from his father's ideology by forming alliances with the Congress and Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party.