A political row was triggered in Maharashtra after Shiv Sena Thackeray faction leaders Uddhav Thackeray, son Adithya Thackeray, and Sanjay Raut were spotted sitting in the last row during the dinner meeting for the INDI Alliance parties at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s residence in New Delhi.
The photograph from the meeting was used by Shiv Sena’s Shinde faction to imply that Thackerays are being disrespected by the Opposition. Shinde faction MP Naresh Mhaske took to X to state that Thackerays “disrespected Maratha pride in Delhi”. “You talk about the legacy of Shivaji Maharaj. But you went to the Congress meeting and sat in the last row? Balasaheb taught us self-respect and pride. Shivaji Maharaj and Balasaheb gave us the lesson to rise up against insult,” his post read.
Mhaske took a swipe at the Thackerays, stating that parties with single MPs were better off and seated in the front row. “If there’s even a little bit of self-respect and pride left, then rise up a bit,” he said.
BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhye also joined the row, questioning how many times Rahul Gandhi or Sonia Gandhi visited Matoshri. “When Uddhav Thackeray was with the BJP, Matoshri and Uddhav Thackeray received so much respect. During the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Amit Shah had come to Matoshri. Cut to 2025, since joining the Maha Vikas Aghadi, has Rahul Gandhi or Sonia Gandhi visited Matoshri? The answer is No. Has any Congress leader gone to pay tribute at the memorial of Hon. Balasaheb Thackeray? No. Has Congress ever referred to Hon. Balasaheb Thackeray as the emperor of Hindu hearts? No,” he said, stating Uddhav was left with “outright humiliation” and relegated to the last row in the meetings.
The Shinde faction ramped up attacks on Thackeray after its MLAs arrived at he memorial site of Balasaheb Thackeray at Chhatrapati Shivaji Park on Friday to seek forgiveness.
Shinde's Shiv Sena is taking the position that he should bow down to Balasaheb Thackeray at the memorial and forgive him. Manisha Kayande MLA, spokesperson Sheetal Mhatre, and other office bearers of the Shiv Sena Shinde group were present at the event. Shinde's Shiv Sainiks were seen chanting, "Forgive Uddhav Thackeray, clean their brains" near Balasaheb's memorial.
MP and Thackeray faction leader Sanjay Raut responded to this criticism, stating Uddhav chose the seat for better visibility.
“We had gone to Rahul Gandhi’s house. Uddhav Thackeray was sitting in the front row. However, since the presentation was going on, he chose to sit in the back seat since it was difficult to watch the screen from the front of the screen,” Raut said, calling the BJP “arrogant and worthless”.
