Uddhav Thackeray said on Friday he is ready to step down as Shiv Sena (UBT) chief if party workers lose faith in him [1].
This offer comes as the party faces a potential internal rebellion that could destabilize its leadership and influence its standing in the legislature. The threat of defections creates a precarious moment for the faction as it attempts to maintain a unified front against political rivals.
Thackeray said the announcement while addressing party cadres during the Shiv Sena Foundation Day event in Maharashtra [1]. He said, "I am ready to quit if the party workers no longer have faith in me" [3].
The willingness to resign follows reports that six Lok Sabha MPs are considering defecting to the rival faction led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde [2]. These potential departures suggest a growing crisis of confidence within the party ranks.
Shinde responded to the situation by suggesting that further political shifts are expected. "Picture abhi baaki hai," Shinde said, implying that the current political drama is not yet over [2].
The internal friction within Shiv Sena (UBT) reflects a broader struggle for control over the party's legacy and identity. The prospect of losing six MPs [2] would significantly weaken the party's legislative presence, and its ability to challenge the current state administration.
“I am ready to quit if the party workers no longer have faith in me.”
Thackeray's offer to resign serves as a strategic attempt to gauge loyalty and preempt a larger rebellion. By tying his leadership to the faith of the party workers, he places the burden of stability on the cadre while attempting to neutralize the momentum of those leaning toward Eknath Shinde's faction.
