Has Shiv Sena gone secular? Here is Uddhav's answer

Speaking at his maiden press conference after taking oath as the Maharashtra chief minister, Uddhav Thackeray was asked a question that has long been lingering in the ether. With his alliance with the Congress and the NCP, has the Shiv Sena embraced secularism. "What is the meaning of secular mean? It is the provisions of the Constitution," he countered.

"Secularism" was the biggest bone of contention between the Sena and the Congress as the unlikely Congress-Shiv Sena-NCP alliance took form in post-polls Maharashtra. Multiple media outlets reported that the Congress was insistent that a commitment to secularism be included in the common minimum programme that the Congress, Shiv Sena and NCP have been drafting as the basis for a proposed alliance. The Hindu reported that the Shiv Sena was "equally firm" on avoiding the inclusion of secularism in the common minimum programme.

The Hindu reported NCP chief Sharad Pawar had suggested that the CMP "simply refer to abide by the Preamble of the Constitution that includes secularism".

At his press conference, Thackeray said he has asked the chief secretary to review all existing government schemes for farmers to understand how much they have actually helped the community. "We can paint a better picture if we know the reality. We have sought inputs. Farmers have not got anything, but only assurances. We want to provide concrete help to farmers," he said after the meeting.

"I have asked the chief secretary to provide a realistic picture about the number of schemes aimed at helping farmers and how much they have benefited them. "Once I get the real picture, we will be able to come up with solution," Thackeray said. The CM said he is not looking at piecemeal approach to resolve issues related to cultivators, who suffered crop losses in unseasonal rains in October.