In announcement of new alliance, Uddhav Thackeray targets BJP over ideology

Uddhav Thackeray has said that several parties have contacted him recently on the basis of religious ideology.

Published on: Aug 26, 2022, 17:52:00 IST

By HT News Desk | Edited by Swati Bhasin, New Delhi

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Uddhav Thackeray on Friday announced an alliance with Maratha outfit Sambhaji Brigade, weeks after the state saw the fall of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government due to Eknath Shinde’s revolt. Amid the involvement of the Supreme Court and the Election Commission over the split of the Shiv Sena and a row over the poll symbol, Thackeray’s announcement can be viewed as an effort to hold its ground despite the setback.

File photo: Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray waves to the people during the flag hoisting ceremony on the occasion of 76th Independence Day, at Shiv Sena Bhawan, in Mumbai. (ANI Photo) (Sandip Mahankal)

In his announcement of the new alliance, Uddhav Thackeray also slammed the BJP. As he praised the Sambhaji Brigade, the former Maharashtra chief minister accused the BJP of betraying the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ideology.

Uddhav Thackeray had ended the decades-old alliance with the BJP a couple of years ago. He had then formed the government in Maharashtra with the NCP and the Congress. He has also played a visible role in the opposition's efforts to remain united ahead of the 2024 polls.

However, the BJP-Uddhav Thackeray rivalry reached a flashpoint again with Shinde's revolt in June. Ever since the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government collapsed in Maharashtra, the party leaders have been attacking CM Shinde. Recently, as the cabinet was expanded - after a delay of over 40 days - and portfolios were distributed, Shinde was targeted in fresh jibes by former colleagues with his deputy Devendra Fadnavis keeping key portfolios of home and finance.

Meanwhile, many parties, Uddhav claimed, have contacted him over the last two months. Sambhaji Brigade has people who fight for ideology, the Sena chief said on Friday, news agency PTI reported. These included those with affinity of ideologies, and those that had opposite ideologies . These parties wished to come together to save regional pride and regional parties, he said.

(With inputs from PTI)

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