uddhav-thackeray-shows-solidarity-with-cm-kejriwal-s-family

During his three-day visit to Delhi, Uddhav Thackeray, the chief of Shiv Sena (UBT), visited Sunita Kejriwal, the wife of Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal.

 

The visit took place at the Kejriwal residence, marking a significant gesture of solidarity and support amid the ongoing political tensions. Thackeray was accompanied by his son Aaditya Thackeray, a party MLA, and senior party leader Sanjay Raut. Also present were AAP MPs Sanjay Singh and Raghav Chadha.

 

MP Sanjay Singh highlighted the purpose of Thackeray’s visit, emphasising the former Maharashtra Chief Minister's support for Sunita Kejriwal and Arvind Kejriwal's parents. Singh pointed out the unprecedented nature of the judicial actions against Arvind Kejriwal, including his detention without an order copy and the initiation of a new CBI case to keep him in jail.

 

The meeting underscored the shared grievances of the opposition parties against the current government’s use of central agencies like the ED and CBI to suppress dissenting voices. Thackeray assured Sunita Kejriwal and her family of his unwavering support.

 

Earlier in the week, the Delhi High Court dismissed Arvind Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest in connection with the Excise Policy case, stating that the arrest had justifiable reasons.

 

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) sought a short adjournment to address its plea for cancelling Kejriwal’s bail. The High Court questioned the ED on the potential re-arrest of Kejriwal if his bail were cancelled, adjourning the matter to September 5, 2024.

 

In addition to his visit to the Kejriwals, Uddhav Thackeray also met with Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge and the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi.

 

These meetings, which included party leaders Sanjay Raut and Aaditya Thackeray, were part of Thackeray's efforts to consolidate opposition unity ahead of the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections. The state is set to poll for its 288-member legislative assembly later this year, with the exact dates yet to be announced by the Election Commission.

 

The political landscape in Maharashtra has seen significant shifts, particularly following the recent Lok Sabha elections in 2024. The ruling BJP saw a dramatic decline, securing only nine seats compared to 23 in the 2019 elections, with a vote share of 26.18 percent.

 

The Congress, meanwhile, slightly improved its position, winning 13 seats. The Maha Yuti alliance, comprising Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), collectively won 17 seats. Within this alliance, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) secured nine seats, while the NCP, led by Sharad Pawar, won eight.

 

Thackeray's visit to Delhi and his engagements with key opposition leaders signal a strategic move to fortify alliances and present a united front against the BJP in the forthcoming state elections.

 

The support extended to the Kejriwal family also highlights the broader opposition strategy to rally against the perceived misuse of power by the central government, aiming to galvanise public opinion and bolster their political campaign.