Mumbai, June 20:
In a dramatic turn in Maharashtra politics, Uddhav Thackeray has offered to step down as party chief amid a fresh rebellion within his faction of the Shiv Sena (UBT), triggered by the defection threat of several Members of Parliament.
The latest turmoil erupted after six Lok Sabha MPs from Thackerayās camp signalled a breakaway, reportedly aligning with the rival faction led by Eknath Shinde. This has significantly weakened Thackerayās hold within the party.
The rebellion comes at a time when the party is already grappling with the after-effects of the 2022 split, making this one of the most serious internal challenges in recent years.
Addressing party workers during the Shiv Sena foundation day event in Mumbai, Thackeray struck an emotional tone:
He said he was ready to resign as party chief if workers felt he was no longer fit to lead.
However, he made it clear he would not allow the party to fall into the āwrong hands.ā