Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction's MLA Ramdas Kadam on Tuesday accused Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawa of breaking Sena into two groups. While speaking to news agency ANI, Kadam said that Pawar was trying to end Shiv Sena since Balasaheb was there but never found a chance.
"It was Sharad Pawar who broke the party. He was trying to end it since Balasaheb was there but never found a chance. Now, he made Uddhav CM. Uddhav didn't go out during Covid and then was ill for 6 months," Kadam said.
The Sena was "systematically weakened" by Pawar. Some MLAs had expressed concern over it but Thackeray was not ready to part ways with Pawar, Kadam claimed.
He also said that it was not acceptable to any of us that the son of the Shiv Sena chief was sitting with the NCP and Congress ministers. "Had Eknath Shinde not taken this step, Shiv Sena would not even have had 10 MLAs in the next election," he said.
"I would thank MLAs who went with Eknath. I worked in the party for 52 years & then I was expelled. I am joining Eknath Shinde today onwards," Kadam added.
However, NCP's chief spokesperson Mahesh Tapase dismissed Kadam's remarks, claiming the BJP was behind the split in the Shiv Sena and that the rebel leaders were trying to divert the attention from it by targeting Pawar.
On Monday, Kadam in a letter to Thackeray tendered his resignation as "Shiv Sena leader". Kadam was later "reinstated" as leader by the rebel Sena faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Kadam's remarks came hours after Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena MP Sanjay Jadhav has expressed confidence that the party will tide over the existing crisis and slammed the rebel faction led by Shinde, saying there should be a limit to one's greed.
The Parbhani MP said it was Shiv Sena that shaped the political career of many leaders and they should never forget it. "Whatever Shiv Sena has given me until now is beyond my expectations. I stand firmly with Uddhav Thackeray. No one should ever think that Sena will wither away so easily," Jadhav said.
Shiv Sena, that is battling under the rebellion of Shinde and 40 MLAs, witnessed a fresh jolt after 12 MPs met Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla earlier in the day and requested him to change the party's floor leader in the Lower House of Parliament. The Sena has 19 MPs in Lok Sabha including 18 from Maharashtra.
"Though Shiv Sena is going through a crisis, this time will pass. The BJP had just two MPs in 1984 but they are ruling today. So, no one should think that Bal Thackeray's Shiv Sena will disintegrate so easily," Jadhav said.
"It is the Shiv Sena which made us big politicians and taught us many things. It seems the party was good for some people till yesterday and now it has become bad. I feel if Eknath Shinde's objective is fulfilled then this issue should end now," he added.
Meanwhile, Shinde, during a presser today said that days back in Maharashtra, his faction established this government with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and they getting full support from the people of the state.
He also said that he is getting support from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. "PM has told us that he will support all development projects in the state," Shinde added.
Shinde on Tuesday said Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has recognised Rahul Shewale as the Shiv Sena leader in the Lower House of Parliament. While speaking to reporters, Shinde said Shiv Sena MPs have supported his stand to uphold the ideals of party founder Balasaheb Thackeray.
"Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has recognised Rahul Shewale as the Shiv Sena leader in the Lower House," he said.