If BJP can shower petals on Pak cricket team, why can’t we discuss alliance with socialists: Uddhav Thackeray

Thackeray was speaking at the meeting of prominent socialist leaders and outfits who have joined hands with the Shiv Sena (UBT) ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The meeting was organised by MLC Kapil Patil.

Last month, Patil had held a state meeting of socialist minded groups and parties in Pune where it was collectively decided to extend political support to opposition’s INDIA front to defeat the BJP in general elections.

Admitting that the socialists and Sena had different ideologies, Thackeray said, “We differed on ideology but did not indulge in personal hatred. We were never taught to hate an individual, though we fought against each other.” He also recalled Sena founder late Bal Thackeray’s feud with former Defence Minister late George Fernandes.

It is not the first time that the Sena is allying with secular and socialist parties or organisations. Since the foundation of the party in 1966, the Sena allied with the secular forces 22 times. Sena contested the first election of Mumbai’s municipal corporation in 1968 in alliance with the Praja Samajwadi Party. It later got involved in bitter rivalry with socialists, especially after the beginning of its alignment with Hindutva politics and opposition to left -led labour unions.

“The people of this country are disillusioned over the leadership they have chosen,” Thackeray said, targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “We can improve the situation if people decide,” he said.