Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut recently announced that Uddhav Thackeray, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, would be responding to critical comments made about him by Sharad Pawar, the President of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), in his autobiography. According to Raut, Thackeray will be addressing the issue through an interview in Saamna, the Shiv Sena’s Marathi-language newspaper.
This development comes amidst a growing rift between the Shiv Sena and the NCP, who are both part of the ruling coalition in Maharashtra along with the Congress party. While the coalition has been relatively stable since its formation in 2019, there have been signs of tension in recent months, particularly between the Shiv Sena and the NCP.
Sharad Pawar’s autobiography, which was released earlier this year, contains several references to Uddhav Thackeray, including comments about his leadership style and his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in Maharashtra. These comments have reportedly not gone down well with the Shiv Sena, and Raut’s announcement suggests that the party is keen to respond.
It remains to be seen what Uddhav Thackeray will say in his interview with Saamna, and how Sharad Pawar and the NCP will respond to his comments. However, the fact that the Chief Minister is choosing to address the issue in the party’s mouthpiece rather than in a public statement or a press conference suggests that the Shiv Sena is looking to send a message to its supporters and to the wider political community in Maharashtra.