Uddhav Thackeray offers to step down as Shiv Sena (UBT) president
At the 60th Foundation Day celebrations of Shiv Sena (UBT), party president Uddhav Thackeray made an emotional address to party workers, stating that he was prepared to relinquish any position within the organisation if members believed someone else could lead it more effectively. However, he stressed that any successor must remain loyal to the party and uphold the values on which it was built through decades of struggle and dedication.
Thackeray said he and the party headquarters, Matoshree, had been subjected to continuous political attacks. Referring to allegations and criticism directed at him, he challenged detractors to identify a capable leader who could defend the party’s interests better than him. At the same time, he expressed regret to voters over the departure of some Shiv Sena (UBT) Members of Parliament, acknowledging the disappointment caused by those defections.
The former Maharashtra Chief Minister accused the BJP of attempting to weaken and dismantle his party despite Shiv Sena’s historical role in helping the BJP expand its presence in Maharashtra. Drawing a contrast with Congress, he claimed that while political differences existed, Congress had never sought to eliminate Shiv Sena (UBT) as a political force.
Warning about the state of Indian democracy, Thackeray argued that the practice of encouraging defections and political realignments was eroding public trust in democratic institutions. He said such developments could eventually lead to a system dominated by a single political party. He also pointed to growing dissatisfaction among young people, who he said were increasingly raising concerns about governance and administrative shortcomings.
Taking aim at what he described as the commercialization of politics, Thackeray remarked that farmers often struggle to secure fair prices for their produce while elected representatives are allegedly lured through political bargaining. He maintained that leaders who switch sides for personal gain would continue to be remembered negatively by history, regardless of their future success.
Despite recent electoral and organisational setbacks, Thackeray expressed confidence in the resilience of Shiv Sena (UBT). He said the party had overcome numerous challenges over the past six decades and would continue to fight for its principles. Invoking the legacies of figures such as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, Shahu Maharaj and B. R. Ambedkar, he said enduring criticism and adversity was part of public life and pledged that the party would remain committed to its ideals.