Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday launched a direct attack on his cousin and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray, when he called Raj a betrayer of the Marathi manoos.
“Raj himself eats cow dung and then smells other’s mouth. But he has been exposed in the legislative council election. Instead of speaking nonsense about the Sena, he should worry about salvaging his own reputation,” Mr Uddhav said in a written statement.
The Sena leader also suggested that the Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi’s manhandling by MNS MLAs in the state Assembly was staged. He said, “You have joined the gang of the same man you pretended to beat up. You betrayed the Marathi manoos by forging an alliance with the Congress and you will have to give an explanation to the people.”
Calling the MNS’ antiques during the legislative council elections disgusting, Mr Uddhav said, “The way he participated in Congress’ horse trading and then justified his action of selling himself to the party was disgusting.” In the legislative council polls held last Thursday, Congress-backed Independent candidate Vijay Sawant was elected at the cost of Shiv Sena’s Anil Parab. The Sena alleged that Mr Sawant won because the votes of MNS’ 13 MLAs were “sold to the Congress”. However, Raj justified his support to the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party alliance, saying that his move was aimed at revoking the suspension of four MNS MLAs.