bjp-mocks-uddhav-over-last-row-seat-at-rahul-gandhi-meet

A political row has broken out between the BJP and the Shiv Sena (UBT) after the saffron party claimed Uddhav Thackeray was “insulted” by being made to sit in the last row during a dinner meeting hosted by Rahul Gandhi.

 

Uddhav, his son Aaditya Thackeray, and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut were seen in the last row as the Leader of the Opposition gave a presentation on alleged voter fraud by the Election Commission. The Maharashtra BJP later shared a screenshot from the event, captioned, “Find self-respect in this picture!”

 

Leading the attack, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that when the undivided Shiv Sena was part of the NDA, Uddhav always sat in the first row. “For us, his respect always came before our own. We have realised what kind of respect and honour he gets there (in the INDIA bloc),” he said.

 

Fadnavis further remarked that Uddhav had often claimed he would never bow before Delhi. “See the situation now, when they are not even in power. It is painful. When he was with us, he was always seated in the front row,” he added.

 

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, whose 2022 rebellion led to Uddhav’s resignation, also mocked his former ally. “Those who mortgage self-pride and abandon Bal Thackeray’s ideals will not feel anything about it. Congress has shown them their place,” Shinde said.

 

The Uddhav camp dismissed the claims. Raut said that although Uddhav was given a front-row seat, he moved to the back for a clearer view of the presentation screen.

 

“We were sitting in the front, but the TV screen was hurting our eyes, so we moved to the back. Look at the other pictures of Uddhav ji. Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi showed him and his family their home,” Raut said.

 

Calling the BJP “useless”, Raut accused the party of being fixated on seating arrangements while the meeting addressed allegations of vote theft.

 

Aaditya Thackeray also responded with a swipe at Shinde, saying, “Some people jostle to sit in the front row.” He added that the meeting had a “homely environment” and seating was their personal decision.

 

“What has irked them is that the Election Commission runs from their office, which was exposed by Rahul Gandhi,” Aaditya said.