Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, in his farewell remarks for Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday, described the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader as “not a typical political personality”.
With Thackeray’s term as a Member of Legislative Council (MLC) ending in May, Fadnavis said that while he has shown aggression in politics when required, it is not his natural disposition but a response to circumstances, highlighting a softer, more personal side of him beyond politics.
The six-year tenure of Thackeray and eight other members will end in May, making this their final session in the Maharashtra legislature. The ongoing session of the state legislature concludes on Wednesday (March 25).
Good health and success
Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde wished Thackeray good health and the best for his future. Fadnavis also wished him good health and success in politics, adding that Thackeray has completed six years and, if he chooses, could return for another term. NCP leader Sunetra Pawar also weighed in, saying, ‘Farewells are always emotional, and today is no different.’ “It is not an end, but a pause, a brief rest before the start of a new journey,” she said.
Relation beyond politics
CM Fadnavis said that differences of opinion are natural in politics; sometimes leaders stand together, and at other times they are on opposite sides, but relationships go beyond politics. He described his association with Thackeray as a long one, saying they have shared a journey over many years. Till 2019, the two were together in power but parted ways after the formation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), when Thackeray became Chief Minister with the support of the Congress and the undivided Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), while the BJP moved into the opposition.
Uddhav takes swipe at BJP
Thackeray likened current politics to an IPL (cricket teams) and called the situation “Indian Political League”, where alliances keep changing, and it becomes unclear who stands with whom, adding “that if all players are on one side, who will they compete against?” He stated that even if one gives a lot, it is not necessarily met with good treatment.
Thackeray recalls his journey
The UBT leader stated that it is a coincidence that his journey began on March 24, 2020, when the nationwide lockdown was announced, and now concludes on the same date (March 24, 2026). He recalled that his first decision (as the CM) was to allocate funds for Raigad, while one of his last was renaming Aurangabad to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. He noted that in the past, even without adequate numbers, the post of Leader of the Opposition was granted. If that was right, then, he said, it should be followed now as well.
The backstory
When the MVA government came to power in November 2019, Thackeray took oath as CM without an MLC. He later entered the Legislative Council unopposed on May 18, 2020, to meet constitutional requirements. His tenure as the CM ended on June 30, 2022, following a split in the then-undivided Shiv Sena led by Shinde.
June 30, 2022
Day Uddhav Thackeray’s tenure ended as CM
