Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis remarked that when Thackeray was with the BJP, he always sat in the front row
In a photo posted on X, the Maharashtra BJP claimed that Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aaditya were sitting on the last row during Rahul Gandhi's address. PIC/X
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena on Friday mocked Uddhav Thackeray for his "painful" last row seat "insult" at the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc meeting in Delhi a day earlier, while asserting that the Congress had shown ally Shiv Sena (UBT) its rightful place.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis remarked that when Thackeray was with the BJP, he always sat in the front row.
Speaking to reporters in Pune, Fadnavis said the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) chief often talks about not bowing before Delhi.
"But see the situation now, when they are not even in power. It is painful. When he was with us, he was always seated in the front row, rather, ahead of all of us. Now it's evident how much respect he is getting there," the CM said.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde further ridiculed Thackeray, stating that those who have been insulted do not seem to feel anything about it.
"Those who mortgage self-pride and abandon Bal Thackeray's ideals will not feel anything about it. Congress has shown them their place. You should ask them why they (Uddhav and Aaditya Thackeray) were made to sit in the back rows," Shinde said.
Thackeray, his son Aaditya, and party Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) Sanjay Raut were seen occupying the last rows during the INDI alliance meeting, while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi delivered a presentation on alleged irregularities in the electoral rolls.
The Maharashtra BJP posted a screenshot of the gathering on X.
या फोटोत स्वाभिमान शोधून दाखवा!#शेवटची_रांग pic.twitter.com/BuSuqAN6Qv
— भाजपा महाराष्ट्र (@BJP4Maharashtra) August 7, 2025
Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar stated, "Making Thackeray sit in the last row is an insult to Maharashtra. Uddhav may accept such an insult, but we are hurt. Rahul Gandhi should not have treated him this way."
BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhye commented, "When Uddhav Thackeray was with us, he was treated graciously and with proper respect. All the senior leaders of BJP used to visit his residence, Matoshri. Look at the situation now. He went with Congress and ended up in the last lane of insult and humiliation."
In a jibe at the Thackerays, Shiv Sena Lok Sabha MP Naresh Mhaske pointed out that even parties with only one MP were seated in the front rows.
"Balasaheb Thackeray taught us self-respect but you did not learn anything from his teachings. If you have any self-respect then rise against it," Mhaske said in a post on X.
Mhaske noted that on the occasion of Aurangzeb's 50th birthday, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was invited to Agra and Delhi.
However, after being made to sit amongst 4,000 mansabdars (imperial officers), the humiliation ignited Shivaji Maharaj's pride, and he walked out of the court defiantly.
"Where on one hand we had Shivaji Maharaj, who rose in anger over such an insult, today we have Uddhav Thackeray, who keeps sitting even after being pushed to the last row in a meeting of allied parties. This is a shameful sight for Maharashtra," Mhaske said.
On the one hand, Uddhav Thackeray claims to uphold Shivaji Maharaj's legacy, but on the other, he tramples every ideal of the great king—something he began the day he aligned with the Congress, Mhaske asserted.
Shiv Sena minister Uday Samant observed that when Shinde visits Delhi, he is photographed sitting beside Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while the Sena (UBT) leaders are pictured in the last rows at INDIA alliance meetings.
Maharashtra now understands who possesses what calibre, Sawant added, in a pointed comment aimed at the Shiv Sena (UBT) leadership.
Responding to the barrage of criticism, Aaditya Thackeray took a swipe at Shinde, saying that some people scramble to sit in the front row.
"It was a homely environment (in the meeting). It is our decision on where to sit away from the screen. What has irked them (Shiv Sena and BJP) is that the Election Commission of India runs from their office which was exposed by Rahul Gandhi," Aaditya Thackeray said.
Raut noted that Gandhi was delivering a presentation and Uddhav was invited to sit in the front.
But he (Uddhav) said it was more comfortable sitting in the back rows for a better view, Raut claimed.
"Uddhav ji, Rashmi (Thackeray) and Aaditya Thackeray were the only ones who Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi gave a tour of Rahul Gandhi's new house," Raut said.
(With PTI inputs)
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