NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
In an apparent sign of thaw, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray and his nephew Raj on Sunday came together at a function in Mumbai, but rumblings in the party continued with MLA Suresh Jain quitting and joining the Nationalist Congress Party.
The Sena chief attended the function organised by Raj and planted a Gulmohar sapling. Raj had publicly aired his discontent about the manner in which Sena nominees for the civic polls were chosen.
According to sources, Bal Thackeray in his speech skirted any controversial issue, but advised Raj to ensure the survival of the 7.5 million saplings to be planted to mark his 75th birth anniversary.
Raj Thackeray, when contacted over phone, avoided answering political questions saying, "It was an environment friendly function, let us talk about nature only."
He, however, said he had "no differences" with his uncle.
About his cousin Uddhav staying way from Sunday's meeting, Raj said: "You ask him."
Notwithstanding the show of unity in the Thackeray family, the Sena got yet another jolt when MLA from Jalgaon, Suresh Jain, resigned from the state legislature and joined the NCP.
A former state minister, Jain had been close to Pawar and had successfully contested assembly elections on Congress ticket in the early nineties.
Tell us what you think of this report
Call India
