Raj's exit will not affect Sena: Uddhav

Barely hours after Raj Thackeray walked out of the Shiv Sena on Sunday and announced his decision to float a rival political front, party Executive President Uddhav Thackeray tried to put up a brave face, saying his cousin's exit will have no adverse impact on the 39-year-old saffron outfit.

Talking to reporters at his residence 'Matoshree' in suburban Bandra, a sad-looking Uddhav said it was quite natural for him to be disappointed because Raj was his brother.

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"Shiv Sena is functioning as a normal political party and the morale of the Sainiks is also very high. Balasaheb is still the final authority in decision-making. Nobody can challenge the authority and image of the party supremo Bal Thackeray, he said and rejected all charges leveled against him by Raj.

"I work for the Shiv Sena and not any group or faction within the party. There are no Uddhav supporters in the Shiv Sena, said Uddhav, who was appointed Executive President by his father Bal Thackeray in early 2003.

Asked about Raj's statement on the party proposal that he look after Pune, Nasik and Konkan which he refused, Uddhav said, "He should say directly what he wants. I was not in the meeting he had with Balasaheb. I read in the newspapers that he wants to meet the Sena chief but not in my presence."

Uddhav also made light of the Sena's defeat in the two bypolls recently, pointing out that a political party's future was not decided by election results.

"Victories and defeats are part of electoral politics. In 2002, everybody had predicted Shiv Sena would lose the Mumbai municipal corporation, but still we worked and won a majority. Similarly, we won in Nasik, Thane and Aurangabad too."