Thackeray-Munde ties on the wane?

Uddhav turned up nearly 3 hours late for Gopinath Munde's 61st birthday, did not contribute article for souvenir book despite promising to do so, say party insiders

IF recent actions of Shiv Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray are any indication, the famous relationship between the Thackerays and alliance troubleshooter and senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde has hit choppy waters.


BJP sources say Uddhav Thackeray's behaviour on Sunday, when Gopinath Munde celebrated his 61st birthday, is a clear indicator of the relationship being on the downswing

Until recently, the general impression was that Munde, a former deputy chief minister, enjoyed a better relationship with the Thackerays than any other BJP leader, including party National President Nitin Gadkari.

Party sources, however, say Uddhav's behaviour on Sunday, when Munde celebrated his 61st birthday, is a clear indicator of the relationship being on the downswing.

Not only did Thackeray turn up two-and-a-half hours late for the celebration, which saw the attendance of a galaxy of leaders including former deputy prime minister LK Advani, Union Industries Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, former deputy chief minister Chaggan Bhujbal and Rural Development Minister Jayant Patil, he also did not contribute an article in the souvenir book or Gaurav Granth on Gopinath Munde. The book, consisting of 200 pages and 72 articles, was released as part of the celebrations.
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"The function started at 10.30 am and Uddhav walked in at 1 pm. The organising committee had asked him to contribute an article to be published in the souvenir book.

However, he kept delaying the article and eventually sent only his best wishes," said a member of the organising committee.

Vilasrao Deshmukh, Chaggan Bhujbal, Hussain Dalwai, noted agri-economist Budhajirao Mulik, RPI leader Ramdas Athavale, Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi and state BJP president Sudhir Mungativar were among the prominent personalities who contributed articles to the book.

City BJP president Raj Purohit, however, said, "Uddhav Thackeray had another function to attend in Dombivli, which was scheduled earlier and he had intimated the organising committee about this."

He denied that Thackeray was asked to contribute any article to the book. Uddhav Thackeray did not respond to calls and text messages sent to him.