Mahayuti takes a dig at Uddhav Thackeray over last-row seating in INDIA Bloc meet

A day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hosted leaders of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) at his residence, the BJP and Shiv Sena in Maharashtra took a dig at Uddhav Thackeray, saying the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader was seated in the last row at the meeting in New Delhi.

While the BJP said it reflected the importance given to Mr. Thackeray in the alliance, its Mahayuti ally, the Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, held a satirical protest at the memorial of its party founder Balasaheb Thackeray, asking for “forgiveness” for his son.

“We feel sad. This is an insult to Maharashtra that Uddhav Thackeray was made to sit in the last row during the meeting,” Maharashtra Information Technology Minister Ashish Shelar said. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis too said it showed the respect the INDIA bloc gave Mr. Thackeray. “When he was with the National Democratic Alliance, he always got the front seat. We have now seen how much respect he gets there [INDIA]. It feels bad to see what happens to him when he is not in power,” Mr. Fadnavis said.

“When you set aside your self-respect, you don’t feel anything. Congress must have shown him his place. I don’t wish to speak about it,” Mr. Shinde said, echoing the Chief Minister’s comments.

The Shiv Sena also organised a “protest march” at the Dadar memorial of the late Balasaheb Thackeray. They carried placards and with folded hands sought apology from the late leader on behalf of Mr. Thackeray. When asked about it, Shiv Sena legislator Manisha Kayande said, “We felt bad. There was a time when top leaders of the BJP used to come to Mumbai, to visit the Thackerays at Matoshree. And now, Uddhav Thackeray has to go to Delhi, and is made to sit in the last row.”

However, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said Mr. Thackeray moved to the last row from the first so that he could see a presentation shown on a screen. “The IT cell of the BJP is jobless,” he said. Nationalist Congress Party (SP) MP Supriya Sule called the criticism “childish” and said that there was no protocol in the informal meeting.