Uddhav Thackeray threatens to quit government yet again

Although Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray only recently declared that his party would not withdraw from the state government until it had finished its work, yesterday - for the second time within a week - he threatened to pull back support to the BJP.

Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray arrives at Sena Bhavan to meet party leaders on Tuesday. Pic/Shadab Khan

Sena insiders said the threat was made after Uddhav met angry party MLAs who complained about being overlooked by the chief minister and other BJP ministers. Sources said Uddhav categorically told the MLAs that he would speak about this to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis once, and if the same trend continued, he will have no option but to withdraw his party's support.

Also Read: Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray threatens to pull out of NDA, BJP calls it 'nautanki'

The Sena president held a meeting with party ministers and MLAs at the party headquarters, Sena Bhavan, in Dadar yesterday. According to a senior party leader who was present in the meeting, most of the MLAs had a common grouse - that they are ignored whenever they present any work for their constituency to the BJP ministers, whereas the work of BJP leaders is done immediately.

"In the meeting, Uddhavji said he will not be the bearer of the palanquin (government machinery) if projects for the common man, taken to the government by the MLAs, aren't carried out. What he meant was he will not support the weight of the government if it doesn't listen to his MLAs," said the leader.

Also Read: Dussehra rally: Protect daal, not Pakistanis, Uddhav Thackeray tells BJP

Just last Friday, during an election campaign in Kalyan, Uddhav had made the same threat unless the BJP changed its "arrogant" ways. After the meeting that lasted two and a half hours, Uddhav also spoke about the hung verdict in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) election.

The Sena won 52 seats in the polls, and needs another nine to be able to place its mayor in the house. It seems likely that the Sena will either partner with the BJP (42) or with the MNS (9). However, the BJP, with 42 seats, is also keen on having its own mayor elected. "The BJP's state president has announced that they will have their mayor in KDMC. They have decided their path, now we will find our own path," said Uddhav.