The rift between Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi and party chief Uddhav Thackeray widened further on Friday.
Almost a week after he was humiliated at the party’s Dussera rally, Mr. Joshi shot off a letter to Mr. Thackeray, asserting that he had done nothing wrong.
“I have sent a letter saying I am not at all at fault. The whole truth is not yet before the people, and it needs to be told. I have asked for a meeting with Uddhav Thackeray and will give him the details,” Mr. Joshi told The Hindu shortly after his return to Mumbai.
In a statement that could provoke the leadership further, he said: “The attack on me was pre-planned. It should not have happened.”
Sources in the party say Mr. Joshi is almost daring Mr. Thackeray to act against him. When asked to about the letter, Mr. Thackeray was dismissive. “I do not find it necessary to respond to this question.” Though the letter was sent on Thursday night, Mr. Joshi has not been granted an audience so far. The party’s strategy seems to be to ignore him.
Mr. Joshi, 75, spoke to The Hindu at length at his office in the plush Kohinoor complex, which the builder-politician owns in the party’s heartland, Dadar. “I had received internal information that Shiv Sainiks would oppose me when I went for the rally. Since I am also a Shiv Sainik, I decided to attend it anyway,” he said. But he was not angry with the party workers. “They are like my brothers. This is the result of a misunderstanding.”
The senior leader clashed with the leadership last week when he made a statement, indirectly referring to Mr. Thackeray as a weak leader. This came shortly after he was denied ticket for the coming Lok Sabha election from Dadar. He then met Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, sparking talk that he was pushing for a Rajya Sabha seat with the support from other parties.
He was heckled at the rally. Mr. Thackeray’s speech had a clear reference to Mr. Joshi. He said it would not tolerate “anarchy within the party.” An editorial in party mouthpiece Saamna warned: “Those who saw the reaction of Shiv Sainiks at the rally should know they should not play with fire.”
Mr. Joshi said, “Earlier, the party had assured me ticket from Dadar. Then they suddenly changed their mind. Naturally, I was disturbed. But now I have made my peace with it.” He clarified that his meeting with Mr. Pawar had no political agenda. “I have a good equation with all parties. I had asked for an appointment with Mr. Pawar 15 days earlier. It had nothing to do with my being refused ticket.”
Mr. Joshi denied having left Mumbai in a huff after the rally. He was away for five days. “I am not angry with the party. Or with Uddhav. He is Bal Thackeray’s son. I have the utmost respect for him.”
The former Lok Sabha Speaker also denied reports that he was planning to leave the party. “I am a Shiv Sainik and will always remain a Shiv Sainik.”
