Shiv Sena: Bal Thackeray's long-time aide joins Eknath Shinde faction
Mumbai: Champa Singh Thapa and Moreshwar Raje, the two trusted aides of late Shiv Sena patriarch Bal Thackeray for decades, joined the Eknath Shinde faction on Monday.
Thapa served Bal Thackeray for 27 years at his residence Matoshri until his death in 2012.
He helped Thackeray with his daily chores and would even receive his phone calls and pass on his messages to whoever called him.
Even Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, Bal Thackeray's son, recognised his devotion by keeping Thapa by his side while performing the senior Thackeray's last rites.
Raje, who had been in Matoshri for at least 35 years, also attended phone calls on behalf of senior Thackeray.
On Monday, Chief Minister Shinde, who is also an MLA from Thane, welcomed Thapa and Raje to his camp by offering them shawls and greeting them.
"Champasinh Thapa, who is considered the shadow of Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray and Moreshwar Raje, who served for a long time on Matoshree, today announced his decision to support us in the arrival procession of Durgeshwari Mata of Jai Ambe Charitable Trustee in Tembhinaka," a translation of Shinde's tweet in Marathi read.
"On this occasion, both of them said that they will stand firmly behind the person who is carrying forward the ideas of Hindutva of Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray," he added.
हिंदुहृदयसम्राट शिवसेनाप्रमुख बाळासाहेब ठाकरे यांची सावली समजले जाणारे चंपासिंह थापा व मातोश्रीवर प्रदीर्घ काळ सेवा बजावलेले मोरेश्वर राजे यांनी आज टेंभीनाका येथील जय अंबे धर्मादाय विश्वस्त संस्थेच्या दुर्गेश्वरी मातेच्या आगमन मिरवणुकीत आम्हाला पाठींबा देण्याचा निर्णय जाहीर केला. pic.twitter.com/UT82ppZlMV
— Eknath Shinde - एकनाथ शिंदे (@mieknathshinde) September 26, 2022
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