'Did not stray from Balasaheb's ideology': Uddhav Thackeray to critics in Facebook address
Mumbai: Shiv Sena party chief and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has denied allegations of rebel MLA Eknath Shinde and his supporters that he has moved from party's founder and his father Balasaheb Thackeray's ideology and challenged his detractors to face him upfront.
"If my own people don't want me as Chief Minister, he should come to me and say so... I'm ready to step down… I am Balasaheb's son, I am not after a position," Uddhav Thackeray said in an emotional Facebook address this evening.
"Both Kamal Nath and Sharad Pawar called me yesterday and said they have faith in me. If my own people don't want me as Chief Minister, he should walk up to me and say so.. I'm ready to resign," Uddhav Thackeray said in a Facebook address this evening.
His address was a response to Sena rebel Eknath Shinde, who along with his followers, submitted a letter to the Governor and Deputy Speaker in the state assembly.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's troubles escalated as 34 MLAs wrote to state's Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, affirming support for Shiv Sena rebel leader Eknath Shinde, a day after Uddhav Thackeray sacked him.
The rebels have said they were extremely unhappy over Uddhav Thackeray's alliance with Congress and NCP, whose ideologies were opposed to that of the party founded by Balasaheb Thackeray.
They also pointed out the corruption committed by NCP leaders Nawab Malik and Anil Deshmukh and other administrative issues.
Eknath Shinde also tweeted, flouting the whip issued by Uddhav Thackeray's nominee Sunil Prabhu that all Sena MLAs must attend the 5 pm meet or they will be considered out of the party.
The rebel MLAs said Bharat Gogavale has been appointed as the Chief Representative of Shiv Sena Legislature which cancels the appointment of Sunil Prabhu as the chief whip.
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