Raj praises Bal Thackeray, but mum on reconciliation

At the inauguration of a cartoonists’ convention in Pune on Friday, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chose to remain silent on cousin Uddhav’s offer of a patch-up even as he drew a caricature of his uncle Bal Thackeray.

At the inauguration of a cartoonists’ convention in Pune on Friday, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chose to remain silent on cousin Uddhav’s offer of a patch-up even as he drew a caricature of his uncle Bal Thackeray.

The event was dedicated to Bal Thackeray, and Raj and RK Laxman were chief guests. Through his speech, Raj, a cartoonist himself, recalled how his uncle got him interested in sketching. “I learnt how to draw cartoons by watching Balasaheb Thackeray and RK Laxman’s work. It was because of Balasaheb that I can now sketch with brush and ink, which is the most difficult,” Raj said.

He then made it clear that he has come to the function as a cartoonist and not as MNS chief. “I know what many of you want to hear, but not today,” Raj said, indicating he was in no hurry to make any announcement on Uddhav’s overtures, which political observers say is a ploy by the Shiv Sena, especially when anxiety is growing among a section of Sena leaders over their future.