A fortnight after his father’s death, Shiv Sena ExecutivePresident Uddhav Thackeray, has got going “ and vowed to fulfill late Shiv Senasuprermo Bal Thackeray’s dream of recapturing power in Maharashtra and in the process “unfurling thesaffron flag atop the Vidhan Bhavan” in the state.
Addressing a party workers’ rally as part of a state-widetour that he embarked upon from the temple town of Kolhapur in westernMaharashtra on Monday “ a fortnight after the death of his father and Shiv Senachief, Uddhav said: “I take a vow in front of all of you that I will not letany of late Balasaheb’s dreams remain unfulfilled. I will move heaven andearth, work tirelessly and will not rest till I unfurl the saffron flag atopthe Vidhan Bhavan”.
Invoking the legacy of late father to pep the morale of hisparty workers, Uddhav said that he was not touring the state for politicalreasons. "This state tour of mine has nothing to do with politics. I havea lot of time in the months and years to indulge in politics. Yes. I willundertake a political tour from January onwards. But, if I have set out on atour of state now it is to meet the Shiv Sainiks who are like my familymembers. Many Sainiks could not make it to the funeral of late Balasaheb. Ihave come to express my gratitude to all of you," he said.
Earlier in the day, Uddhav visited Mahalakshmi temple andtook the blessings of the presiding deity there. He also interacted with theSena’s office bearers and prominent workers from western Maharashtra.
During the next leg of his two-week tour, Uddhav will meetparty office bearers at district and taluka levels and address public ralliesin Nashik, Ratnagiri, Aurangabad, Nagpur and Thane, which are located in northMaharashtra, Konkan, Marathwada and Vidarbha regions of the state.
It is to be mentioned here that on Sunday, he had ruled outthe possibility of his ever replacing Balasaheb as the Sena chief. "Thereis only one Sena chief and that is Balasaheb. He was, is and will be the Senachief and Hinduhriday Samrat," Uddhav averred.
In an interview published in the Sena’s official mouth-piece“Saamana” a day ahead of embarking his upon a state-wide tour, Uddhavcategorically stated that he had no plans of taking over as the Sena chiefafter his father Balasaheb’s death.
“Who says Balasaheb has departed? He is very much in ourmidst. He is testing all of us, That’s why Balasaheb will continue to remain inthe post as the Sena chief ..Balasaheb was, is one and only supremo. And he isthe unique Sena chief. There cannot beanother Sena chief, Uddhav said.
