Shiv Sena workers force Manohar Joshi to leave Dussehra rally

MUMBAI: The first Dussehra rally of the Shiv Sena since the demise of Balasaheb Thackeray last year, saw factionalism at its peak. Senior Sena leader Manohar Joshi who attended all the rallies since 1967 sitting next to the party chief, was hooted out from the stage by Uddhav loyalists.

One of the senior most leaders of the Shiv Sena former speaker of the Lok Sabha Manohar Joshi has had an uneasy relationship with Sena President Uddhav Thackeray since the past few months. Speaking at a private function last week Joshi targeted Uddhav publicly stating that Sena’s present leadership is not as aggressive as Balasaheb. On Sunday Joshi had to face the brunt of Shiv Sena activists at the Sena’s annual dussehra rally.

As Joshi arrived on the stage a group of Shiv Sainiks sitting right in the front shouted slogans against him and demanded that he should leave. Uddhav Thackeray and his son, Aditya Thackeray tried to intervene but the crowd was in no mood to listen to them. Joshi spent about five minutes on the stage amidst chaos and then left the stage.

In a clear reference to Joshi’s earlier comments Uddhav said “There are many who are asking questions about my leadership. I am happy to see that thousands have gathered here who trust me. I want to tell all that it is the Shiv Sainiks who will decide who leads the party and nobody else.”

Uddhav targeted the UPA government and specially Union Minister Sharad Pawar in his speech. “Pawar is only interested in agriculture but only in cricket, why is he contesting the Mumbai Cricket Association election now. The UPA government is creating confusion on every front. The way an ordinance was withdrawn a few days ago show how the Congress and UPA have no coordination among them. Farmers, workers, industrialists and every other section of the society is unhappy with this government,” Uddhav said.