Thackeray not just a brand, it is Maharashtra's identity, says Uddhav

Mumbai: Thackeray is not just a brand, but an identity of Maharashtra, Marathi manoos and Hindu pride, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray said making a strong statement to the BJP and warned that attempt to finish off the brand would cost them dearly.

“From my grandfather (Prabodhankar Thackeray) to (father) Shiv Sena Pramukh (Balasaheb Thackeray) the relationship is deep and strong…now I am working…(my son Aaditya is there)…now (MNS chief) Raj has also joined us,” said Uddhav, who had been Maharashtra Chief Minister for two-and-a-half-years before BJP toppled it in June 2022.

“Many people are drumming the band to erase the (Thackeray) brand, however, they will not succeed…many people who desired to wipe out the brand got wiped out…it is the people who wiped them out,” he said.

"I always say, I am no one. I am zero. Uddhav Thackeray has no meaning. Meaning is of Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray… Balasaheb always used to say, don't forget the blessings of your ancestors. Whatever we are, it is because of their virtuous deeds. We are zero,” he said.

The statement comes just a fortnight after Uddhav and Raj came together on one platform after a gap of 20 years on the issue of Marathi language and Marathi pride.

Thackeray made the observations during an interview with journalist-politician and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut in the run up to his 65th birthday, which falls on 27 July.

The first part of the interview appeared on Saturday in Marathi broadsheet mouthpiece Saamana and Hindi tabloid Dophar ka Saamana besides the media group’s online and social media platforms.

In the interview, Uddhav also slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

On the outcome of Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha polls, he said: “At that time, Maha Vikas Aghadi fought the elections with strength and unity. The booth level workers were also alert. ‘ab ki baar chaar sau paar’ was to change the Constitution, the public recognised this and voted against them… Modi’s government lies… it only talks. The public understood this."

He added, "BJP has a policy. It has to keep the common people always worried and stressed. It has to divide them on the basis of caste and creed, keep them unstable on the economic level and maintain constant instability in the entire country. BJP’s policy is to rule by taking advantage of that instability… ‘divide, break and rule’ is to adopt the policy of the British. They adopted the narrative ‘batange to katange’’ in the Assembly polls. After the results of the Lok Sabha, BJP spread this poison in the election campaign."