In the wake of a revolt by six Lok Sabha MPs, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray said he was ready to step down from his position if the party no longer had faith in him.
Addressing party workers on the occasion of the Shiv Sena's 60th foundation day, Thackeray launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, accusing them of eroding public faith in democracy through their style of politics.
In an emotional speech, Thackeray asserted that he would never allow the Shiv Sena to fall into the hands of "thieves" and dismissed speculation about a possible merger with the Congress.
"I would be happy if someone from the party ranks becomes the next Shiv Sena president, but I will not let it pass into the hands of thieves," he told supporters.
Thackeray said he has carried the responsibility of leading the party for the past 12 to 13 years, facing numerous political challenges and personal attacks along the way.
"If the allegations being levelled against me are true, then I am ready to step down. I have no lust for leadership," he said, stressing that his commitment has always been to the party rather than personal power.
None of the rebel MPs who switched allegiance to the rival Shiv Sena faction led by Shinde attended the event.
Meanwhile, speaking at a separate gathering to mark the party's foundation day, Shinde hinted that more defections could follow.
"This is just a trailer and the movie is yet to come. Just see what happens ahead (Yeh too sirf trailer tha. Picture abhi baaki hain. Aage aage dekho hota hain kya)," he said, suggesting further setbacks for the Uddhav faction.
Taking a swipe at Thackeray, Shinde remarked that "a wolf does not become a tiger by wearing a tiger's skin."
He also argued that being the son of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray does not automatically make one the rightful heir to the party, saying the Shiv Sena is an ideological movement and not a family inheritance.
Shinde further targeted the INDIA bloc and the Congress, claiming that regional parties such as the Shiv Sena (UBT), RJD and DMK have suffered electoral setbacks whenever they aligned themselves with the grand old party.
