Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Monday welcomed the decision of Team Anna to form a new political outfit and wondered what brought about this "miracle".
"Some intellectuals say politics is the last resort of scoundrels. Team Anna is welcome here, but how did this miracle happen," the 86-year-old Sena patriarch said in an edit in party mouthpiece Saamna.
Thackeray said he was expecting some kind of turnaround from Team Anna after its "fast" agitation did not excite people.
"During my hospitalisation, I was keeping a close watch on the developments at Jantar Mantar and realised that with crowds keeping away from Team Anna, some kind of announcement to attract attention was waiting to happen," he said.
Thackeray said it is good that Team Anna has accepted the electoral path since they are unable to sustain the "fast" agitation against corruption.
"We have too much democracy in our country where irrespective of mass support or cadre, one can come up with a political party. Hence, it is up to individual discretion whether or not to take this new party seriously," he added.
Thackeray said there is no clarity on whether Baba Ramdev will merge his political outfit with that of Team Anna or they will operate separately.
"Who knows...Team Anna members may end up having separate parties themselves. Fissures within Team Anna are visible. Anna praises Pranab Mukherjee while rest of the team calls him corrupt. Team Anna defines corruption and scam according to their own convenience," he added.
Also, Thackeray wondered why Team Anna had been silent on the Bofors scam. He said corruption was rampant due to the electoral and democratic system.
"Corruption will not end until use of black money in elections is stopped. Big corporate houses run power politics in the country. There is huge investment in elections. One cannot contest elections without money," he said.
Thackeray drew attention to Sharad Pawar's comments that Team Anna should show how to contest elections and campaign across the country without money. He said Team Anna should respond on this issue.
