Uddhav Thackeray: EC Can’t Change My Name

Uddhav Thackeray, the chief of Shiv Sena (UBT), made a statement on Monday emphasizing that it was his “good fortune” that the Election Commission had not assigned the name “Uddhav Thackeray” to Eknath Shinde, the Chief Minister.

“People often talk about dynasties. Let them talk. Yes, I come from a dynasty. But it’s fortunate that the EC hasn’t given him (Eknath Shinde) the name Uddhav Thackeray. You never know; one day they might say that my name is something else, and his name is Uddhav Thackeray. No one has the right to change names. The EC certainly doesn’t have that authority. The EC can allocate election symbols, but it cannot assign my father’s name to someone else. We won’t accept it. While serving as the Chief Minister, I did what I could, and the people of Maharashtra accepted me. I am honored to be a part of the Maharashtra family. That is my lifelong achievement,” Uddhav Thackeray stated.

Earlier, Uddhav Thackeray had announced that Maharashtra would bid farewell to the Eknath Shinde-led government on December 31. This announcement came after the Supreme Court directed Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar to make a decision on the disqualification petitions filed by the Thackeray faction and the rival Shiv Sena led by Shinde against each other’s MLAs by December 31. The MVA government, led by Thackeray, had collapsed in June last year following a rebellion by Mr. Shinde and several MLAs. Eknath Shinde later assumed the role of Chief Minister with the support of the BJP.”