Picture : Twitter / ANI
An emotional Uddhav Thackeray has offered to quit as Maharashtra Chief Minister and extended an olive branch to rebel Shiv Sena MLAs led by Eknath Shinde, saying he will be happy if a Shiv Sainik succeeds him, adding a new twist to the ongoing political crisis that threatens to bring down his coalition government of two-and-a-half years.
Breaking his silence over the revolt led by Shinde, a cabinet minister and Sena strongman from Thane, Thackeray said he was ready to step down if the rebel leader and MLAs supporting him, all camping in Guwahati in the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled Assam, declare that they don’t want him to continue as CM.
In an 18-minute live webcast which was delayed by 30 minutes, Thackeray, who tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the day, made an emotional appeal to the rebels as well as common Shiv Sainiks and admitted to being inexperienced and clarified that a spine surgery late last year kept him away from meeting people.
The CM said he was ready to give up the post of party president as well if Shiv Sainiks feel he isn’t capable of leading the outfit which is heading the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, which also includes the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress.
“Why make statements from Surat (where rebels headed first on Monday night) and other places. Come and tell me on my face that I am incompetent to handle the post of chief minister and Shiv Sena president. I will resign immediately. I will keep my resignation letter ready and you can come and take it to the Raj Bhavan,” he said.
The CM said he would be happy if a Shiv Sainik succeeds him to the top elected post in the state.
Some people say that it’s not Balasaheb’s Shiv Sena. They should tell what were the thoughts of Bala Saheb. This is the same Shiv Sena that it was at his time ‘Hindutva’ is our life , Uddhav was quoted as saying By ANI
