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Mumbai: Rebel Shiv Sena leader, Raj Thackeray, has
summoned his supporters at Shivaji Park in Central Mumbai
today. It is believed that Raj Thackeray will officially
announce his departure from the Shiv Sena. However,
whether he will establish his own party is undisclosed.
Sources close to Raj have revealed that the estranged
Thackeray scion was all set to announce his future plans
on yesterday. But, nothing specific except speculations
made rounds on Saturday. Sources also disclose that
Raj’s independent unit will include mainly the
members of the Shiv Sena’s youth wing, Bhartiya
Vidyarthi Sena (BVS). Raj Thackeray has led the BVS
it was set up.
Meanwhile, Raj’s extended indecision has caused
nearly a shift faith of nearly 1,500 BVS members who
have reportedly joined the Congress affiliated National
Student’s Union of India (NSUI). The NSUI clarifies
that all those who have joined in are impressed by the
ideologies of this unit. But, the anxiety of the BVS
members following Raj’s inflexible stance cannot
be overlooked. With Raj Thackeray all set to quit the
Sena, student wings look at the NSUI as the most powerful
to tackle student issues.
Raj had resigned from all posts in the Sena on November
27, following a public criticism of the Sena leadership,
thwarting the functioning of Sena’s Executive
President and cousin, Uddhav Thackeray. Raj had alleged
that the Sena “was being run by a coterie of clerks”.
Since then, constant pleas and new formulae have been
unsuccessful in putting an end to the crisis.
No solution has come up even though Raj met uncle, Bal
Thackeray, once and sister-in-law, Smita Thackeray,
thrice since the conflict became public. Meetings between
Raj and several top Sena leaders have also been equally
futile. For now, even Manohar Joshi — the man
who supposedly conveyed Bal Thackeray’s invitation
for talks to Raj — has refused to contemplate
any future events. “We will discuss issues as
they happen,” Joshi told reporters in Mumbai.
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