Mumbai: Uddhav Thackeray says ready to quit as Shiv Sena (UBT) chief if party has lost trust in him

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray addresses party workers during the party`s 60th Foundation Day celebrations, in Mumbai, on Friday. PIC/PTI

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Friday said he was ready to step down from his position if the party no longer had trust in his leadership, amid a rebellion by six Lok Sabha Members of Parliament (MPs) of the party, news agency PTI reported.

Addressing a gathering in Mumbai to mark the 60th Foundation Day of the Shiv Sena, Thackeray said he had been leading the party for over a decade and had faced repeated political and personal attacks, but would not continue if there was a lack of confidence in him.

"If the allegations being levelled against me are true, I am ready to step down. I have no lust for leadership," stated Thackeray.

However, he added that he would not allow the party to fall into the hands of "thieves" or "traitors".

"I would be happy if someone from the party becomes the next Shiv Sena president, but I will not let it pass into the hands of thieves," he said.

The remarks come amid growing tensions within Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) after six of its nine Lok Sabha MPs skipped a crucial parliamentary party meeting in New Delhi, defying a party whip.

"If not BJP in 30 years, why Congress?" Thackeray dismisses merger talk

The MPs who skipped the meeting were Nagesh Ashtikar, Sanjay Jadhav, Sanjay Deshmukh, Sanjay Dina Patil, Omprakash Rajenimbalkar, and Bhausaheb Wakchaure. Three MPs - Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai, and Rajabhau Waje - attended the meeting, along with Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, and were felicitated at the Mumbai event.

Thackeray rejected speculation that the party could merge with the Congress, saying the Shiv Sena had never been created for mergers.

"If we didn't merge with the BJP despite being allies for 30 years, how can we merge with the Congress?" he said, adding that he feared the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) might instead merge with the Shinde-led Sena.

The former Maharashtra chief minister also apologised to voters for electing the rebel MPs, suggesting they were now preparing to switch sides.

He further said the Shiv Sena (UBT) was not weakened by the developments and claimed party workers remained motivated.

Thackeray also accused the BJP of pursuing "politics of defections" and warned that democratic institutions were under threat due to engineered political realignments.

(With PTI inputs)