Raj, Uddhav should oin hands: Bhujbal

Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal on Monday said he would be happy if the warring Thackeray cousins forgot their differences and came together.

Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal on Monday said he would be happy if the warring Thackeray cousins forgot their differences and came together.

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Bhujbal, a formal Sainik, said this in an informal chat with the media at the state secretariat when asked to comment on the ongoing tussle between the two Senas.

One of the Sena’s first prominent rebels, Bhujbal said, “I will be happy if Raj and Uddhav come together. All Shiv Sainiks are hoping that this happens. But, those who are close to Bal Thackeray should also feel that way.’’

He hinted that the coterie around the Sena chief may not be keen to see the cousins together. Bhujbal added that while his party (NCP) will oppose the Sena in politics, it did not wish to see a split in the family.

“Why should anyone hope for a break or divide within a family? Our party has done well independently and we will continue fighting them in politics but we wish no fall out in the family for any gains,’’ he said.

In 2008, Bhujbal built bridges with the Sena and his first mentor, Thackeray, by withdrawing a defamation case against the Sena chief ending a 15-year bitter tussle. Since then, he has maintained good relations with the family. Senior Sena leader, Ramdas Kadam, also expressed similar views in Shirdi. “I have prayed that both of them come together,” the former leader of Opposition in the state Legislature said.