Stand by uddhav and aditya, says thackeray sr

Ailing Bal Thackeray urges Maharashtrians, via video conference, to keep their loyalties to Shiv Sena intact. Referring to his failing health, octogenarian Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray made

a strong emotional pitch to Maharashtrians to stand by his son and party executive president Uddhav Thackeray and grandson and Yuva Sena chief Aditya. Without naming his estranged nephew

and Maharashtra Navanirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, Thackeray rued that the Maharashtrian votes were being split causing its defeat in the Marathi heartland of Dadar. The MNS had

trounced the Sena in the assembly and municipal polls from Dadar. “At least the Marathi manoos should not stand against the Sena. In Dadar, where the Shiv Sena was born (in 1966), where the

Shiv Sena Bhavan stands proudly, the Sena had to bite dust. Why has this happened?” asked Thackeray in his 25-minute recorded speech, which was aired at the party’s annual Dussehra rally in

Shivaji Park on Wednesday. Calling on his flock to stay united behind his heir apparent, Thackeray urged Maharashtrians to trounce the Congress. Talking about his frail and failing health,

Thackeray said he was unable to come to Shivaji Park as he was too weak, was suffering from breathlessness and had trouble walking. “Come here and see the state of the Shiv Sena pramukh,”

said Thackeray to strike a chord in the hearts of the sainiks “...my organs are failing. Now, I just lie down.” Thackeray was hospitalised for nine days in July and has been ailing since

then. “Keep your loyalties intact,” said Thackeray, calling on Maharashtrians to stand by the Sena. “You took care of me, (similarly) take care of Uddhav, take care of Aditya,” said the Sena

chief, adding that this would help Maharashtra progress. Thackeray added that unlike the Gandhi family, he had not “imposed” either Uddhav or Aditya on them. “The Shiv Sena has not given up

on Marathi (identity). Marathi is our base,” said Thackeray, dismissing charges that the focus of the Sena on Hindutva diminished its focus on the Marathi agenda. Thackeray also called on

the people to “uproot” the “gang of five” namely Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Robert Vadra and Ahmed Patel and rued that India had become the “nation of

cheaters.” Lashing out at the appeasement of minorities, he also attacked union agriculture minister and NCP chief Sharad Pawar for his statement about Mumbai being multi-linguistic and over

his alleged involvement in the Lavasa project. ThackeraySpeak My organs are failing. Now, I just lie down. You took care of me, (similarly) take care of Uddhav, take care of Aditya. In

Dadar, where the Shiv Sena was born (in 1966), where the Shiv Sena Bhavan stands proudly, the Sena had to bite dust. Why has this happened?