MUMBAI: MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande Sunday said MNS had extended an olive branch to Uddhav Thackeray in 2017 but he had rejected it. “Our leader Bala Nandgaonkar went to Matoshree to meet Uddhav Thackeray but he did not even come down. He stopped taking calls.”
He said, “We also need to address what has happened in the past. Will Uddhav Thackeray apologise for the 17,000 cases lodged against MNS workers on the loudspeaker issue when he was Chief Minister?” Speaking about Uddhav Thackeray’s precondition, he said, “They say the BJP is distributing certificates on who is an anti-national. Is the SS (UBT) now giving certificates on who is pro and anti-Maharashtra?”
Raj Thackeray had left the party and formed the MNS two decades ago, after claiming he was progressively sidelined even as Uddhav was anointed Bal Thackeray’s successor. In recent years, as his party lost support, he has alternately bashed and supported the BJP.
In the Lok Sabha polls last year, he had extended his unconditional support to the Mahayuti alliance. In the assembly polls last year, the MNS did not win a single seat. Even Raj Thackeray’s son Amit lost from Mahim.
The SS (UBT) is also battle-scarred, after deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde split the party in 2002 and wrested the party’s name and symbol. In the recent assembly polls, the party trailed far behind the Shinde’s Shiv Sena.
Meanwhile Raut pointed out that Deshpande was a party functionary and the words of Raj Thackeray would prevail. “Raj Thackeray made a statement and Uddhav Thackeray responded and welcomed it. What someone else says is not relevant. Everything is for the good of Maharashtra but those who are anti-Maharashtra should not be entertained. We have not given pre-conditions. Raj Thackeray knows who is anti-Maharashtra.”
Meanwhile Naresh Mhaske from Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena dismissed the possibility of a patch-up and said, “When Raj Thackeray was in the party, Uddhav Thackeray did not want to give him any responsibility and did not want him to visit shakhas. How is he going to include him now?” Raut shot back, “Mhaske should concentrate on his party chief Amit Shah.”
Industries minister Uday Samant from the Shiv Sena also dismissed the possibility of a reconciliation. “Raj Thackeray is an independent thinker and he is unlikely to respond to riders and pre-conditions,” he said.