Uddhav Thackeray (File Photo)

NEW DELHI: The Shiv Sena (UBT) is facing sharp criticism over Uddhav Thackeray’s absence during the recent Pahalgam terror attack and his party’s decision to skip a key all-party meeting. Political observers and party insiders say the opposition party’s image has suffered due to its lack of presence during a national crisis.According to party sources cited by news agency PTI, the Thackeray family has returned from their vacation.According to PTI, Uddhav Thackeray was last seen publicly on April 19, when he addressed members of the Bharatiya Kamgar Sena, the party’s labour wing. His absence coincided with the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives.Criticism intensified after Maharashtra deputy chief minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde took a jibe at Thackeray on Thursday, accusing him of vacationing in Europe while party workers were in distress.Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora was even more direct in his condemnation.“From sons of the soil to tourists of India’. How far the Thackerays have fallen. While bullets flew in #Pahalgam, they were vacationing in Europe,” he posted on X.“Maharashtra needs warriors on duty, not part-time Netas on holiday,” he added.In another post on May 9, two days after India carried out retaliatory strikes on terrorist camps following the Pahalgam attack, Deora tweeted again: “Take UBT, for instance. Their hate for PM @narendramodi ji & DCM @mieknathshinde ji has turned into hate for India & Maharashtra.”A Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA acknowledged that while taking a personal break is not inherently wrong, the timing hurt public perception.“The family had gone on a vacation, and it would not be right to comment on it as it is a family matter. But yes, their long absence at such a time does not look good for the party,” he said.A party functionary also confirmed Thackeray’s return, saying: “We are not aware of the itinerary, but he (Thackeray) is now back in the country.”In contrast, Eknath Shinde visited Jammu and Kashmir after the attack to assist in the return of tourists from Maharashtra. His government also arranged special flights, and the deputy CM personally met families who lost loved ones in the attack.While Shiv Sena (UBT) also facilitated travel arrangements, it came under scrutiny for missing the first all-party meeting called after the incident.Party MP Arvind Sawant initially explained that he and Sanjay Raut had to skip the meeting due to their parliamentary committee commitments and travel schedules. Later, Raut claimed the party intentionally missed it as they would have demanded Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s resignation—potentially embarrassing opposition allies.Ahead of the second all-party meeting on May 7, after India’s Operation Sindoor, Raut said the party had skipped the earlier one due to a lack of concrete government action.The Shiv Sena (UBT) did attend the all-party meeting on May 7 following India’s retaliation.Political analyst Abhay Deshpande said Thackeray’s absence, particularly at such a critical moment, reflected poorly on the party. He noted that as a key member of the INDIA alliance, Shiv Sena (UBT) should have been present at the first all-party meet.Another political expert, Hemant Desai, said the undivided Shiv Sena had always maintained a proactive stance during national crises. He suggested Thackeray should have cut short his vacation.“When the Sena UBT attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the Pahalgam attack, what were its leaders doing?” Desai asked, adding that the top leadership being away doesn’t mean the whole party is on pause.Desai also pointed out that the response from Sena (UBT) lacked the intensity that the original Shiv Sena was known for.While Uddhav Thackeray did issue a statement after Operation Sindoor on May 7, he made no direct comment immediately following the Pahalgam attack. Aaditya Thackeray, however, tweeted about the attack, India’s response, and other related developments.Thackeray is expected to make a public appearance next week. According to Sanjay Raut, he will attend a book launch event on May 17, where NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) leader Sharad Pawar will also be present.(With inputs from PTI)