Sena will not deviate from Hindutva, says Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray

Shiv Kumar
Tribune News Service
Mumbai, December 1

Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, who came to office with support from the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress, said here on Sunday that he still believes in the ideology of ‘Hindutva’ and would not leave it.

“I am very much a believer in the ideology of Hindutva and would not leave it,” Thackeray said while thanking the Maharashtra Assembly for winning Saturday’s vote of confidence.

The Shiv Sena chief, who is holding political office for the first time in his life, thanked his predecessor Devendra Fadnavis who took over as Leader of the Opposition today.

Calling Fadnavis a close friend, Thackeray indicated that he was still upset at the BJP for not agreeing to share the post of chief minister with the Shiv Sena.

“If only you had been good to us, all this would not have happened.... I would have been watching (the proceedings of the House at home) on television,” Thackeray said.

The chief minister added that he learnt a lot of things from Fadnavis in the last five years. He however added that the Shiv Sena did not betray the BJP government when the two shared power.

Thackeray went on to poke fun at Fadnavis’ election slogan ‘Me punha yein (I will return)’.

“I never said I will come back, but I am here today in this House,” he said.

“I can assure this House and people of Maharashtra that I will not do anything at midnight. I will be working
for the interests of the people,” Thackeray further rubbed it in.

Fadnavis was hurried sworn in as chief minister last weekend by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari and had to leave after less than three days in office.

Thackeray said his government’s priority was the welfare of farmers. “We will not only waive farmers’ loans but we will reduce his worries as well,” Thackeray said.