Shiv Sena (UBT) is no small party: Uddhav Thackeray on Sharad Pawar's 'merger' remark

Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray. Pic/PTI

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday said his outfit was not a "small party", and hit out at Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis over their reactions to NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar's 'merger' remark, reported news agency PTI.

Earlier, in an interview to a leading daily, Sharad Pawar predicted that in the next couple of years, several regional parties will associate more closely with the Congress, or even merge with it, reported PTI.

While CM Shinde latched on to Sharad Pawar's 'merger' remark to target Uddhav Thackeray saying he had already become "Congress-minded", Fadnavis said it showed how difficult it was for Pawar himself to manage his party.

Speaking at an election rally in Pune district, Uddhav Thackeray said Shinde and Fadnavis were speaking as if they were high on 'bhang' (cannabis), reported PTI.

"Pawar saheb said while replying to a question that some small regional parties may merge with Congress. Please tell me, is Shiv Sena a small party?" he asked, reported PTI.

Thackeray also took swipes at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that unlike in 2014 and 2019, he has no issues left during the ongoing elections.

"I had heard in my childhood that if someone is scared of ghosts, he should chant 'Ram, Ram'. Since he is scared of defeat, he is going around the country chanting the name of Ram," said Thackeray, reported PTI.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan on Wednesday said he agreed with NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar's remarks on possible merger or close association of regional outfits with the grand old party going forward, reported PTI.

However, everything will depend on the June 4 results of the ongoing Lok Sabha polls, maintained the former Maharashtra chief minister.

"I was there when Pawar saheb made those remarks. Everything depends on the result of polls on June 4. We are sure there will be an INDIA alliance government at the Centre after June 4 and to take benefits of power, some parties may join the INDIA alliance or even merge with the Congress. But all these things are based on ifs and buts as everything depends on June 4 results," he said, reported PTI.

Chavan said he agreed with Pawar's views.

(With inputs from PTI)