A peace formula to broker a ceasefire between Shiv Sena’s executive president Uddhav Thackeray and his cousin Raj has fallen through owing to ego hassles between the warring cousins: While Uddhav wants Raj to apologise publicly before considering the peace formula, Raj is in no mood to relent.According to sources, the peace formula was worked out by senior Sena leader and former Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi in consultation with Sena chief Bal Thackeray, after Raj ignored several attempts by senior Thackeray to contact him for a compromise.Presuming that the formula would work out, Thackeray Sr wrote in the party mouthpiece Saamna on Saturday last (December 10) that the party would not breakup as expected by its adversaries.The same day, Joshi along with another senior Sena leader Pramod Navalkar went to meet Raj at the latter’s residence at Dadar. Since it was the second death anniversary of Raj’s father, Shrikant Thackeray, the visit of Joshi and Navalkar did not raise eyebrows.According to the sources, the peace formula suggested that Raj be brought on par with Uddhav as executive president. A top Sena functionary said, ‘‘The formula advocated a clear-cut division of work between Uddhav and Raj with areas and responsibilities defined precisely and in case of any dispute, the decision of Balasaheb Thackeray was to be binding on the both.’’The details of the formula was to be worked out with due consultation with both the cousins so as to define their jurisdiction over areas, organisations affiliated to the party, powers and duties. ‘‘However, the problem is that Uddhav is adamant thatRaj should first apologise for making allegations against him at a public meeting held on November 27,’’ the Sena functionary said.‘‘Uddhav has made it clear that he would to come to the negotiating table only after Raj tenders an apology, while Raj has refused to do anything of that sort,’’ he added.The Sena functionary said Thackeray Sr was very much interested in pushing through the peace proposal. ‘‘He wants the family and the party to remain intact,’’he said. ‘‘Even Thackeray Senior is willing to divide the power between his son and nephew to save his party and family changing his earlier stand that Uddhav powers cannot be diluted,’’ he added.Smita Thackeray (wife of Thackeray’s estranged son Jaidev), who visited Raj on the occasion of the death anniversary of his father on Saturday, is also seen as an emissary of Thackeray Sr. However, Smita, who had also attended the birthday celebration of Raj’s father-in-law Mohan Wagh on Friday last, had made it clear that she was not representing Thackeray Sr.
