MUMBAI: Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray addressed his first press conference at his residence Matoshree after the coup in the party on Friday to emphasise that the party symbol would remain with them. "No one can snatch the bow and arrow symbol away from us. That is the legal position and no one should fall prey to rumours," he said.
When asked which candidate the party would support for the presidential polls, Thackeray said, "I will have to consult the party leaders and MPs before taking a decision." Party MP Rahul Shewale has already written to Thackeray, requesting that they back NDA candidate Droupadi Murmu.
Thackeray also said the Eknath Shinde faction should resign and face mid-term polls. "There should be mid-term polls. If people feel we are in the wrong, they should not elect us. If they feel they are to blame, they should not elect them," he said. The Eknath Shinde faction has 40 of the party's 55 MLAs.
Asked about the ex-corporators from the Thane, Kalyan and Navi Mumbai region joining the Shinde faction, Thackeray said, "These are former corporators. The terms of the corporations have ended and new candidates will have to face elections," he said.
Thackeray emphasised there was a difference between the legislature party and political party. "Even if the party is left with one MLA, it does not mean it is finished. There is a difference between the legislature party and the party on the street. There are party leaders and workers. The party will get other MLAs elected," he said.
In response to rebel MLAs saying they were willing to return to Shiv Sena if it allied with BJP, Thackeray said, "They are sitting with people who have insulted my family. Indeed, they tried to finish off my son," he said.
Thackeray also said if BJP wanted to give the CM's post to Sena, it should have done so 2.5 years ago. "It would have been given with respect rather than strife. And they would not have had to spend thousands of crores," he said, in a dig at the BJP.
He said the verdict on cases they had filed would be an example. "It will show us the position of democracy. I am not worried about the verdict," he said. Meanwhile, reacting to Thackeray, BJP's Praveen Darekar said, "It shows he has lost confidence. With two-thirds of the party with Eknath Shinde, Thackeray is worried he will lose the party symbol."
