Thackeray to stay aloof for at least 3 months

MUMBAI, March 29: Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray has expressed his resolve to remain aloof from politics for “at least three months,” giving Chief Minister Manohar Joshi breathing time to restore his mentor’s faith in his abilities.Thackeray, who sparked a crisis in the ruling Sena after he openly expressed displeasure with Joshi in an interview to the party mouthpiece Saamna last week, said he has made a resolve to distance himself from the government and the party for at least three months, if not longer.

“This period (of keeping away from politics) can be more than three months,” he said, but declined to elaborate. Earlier, he had not specified the duration of his self-imposed temporary withdrawal from matters of party and governance.

After criticising Joshi over his “pro-Sharad Pawar leanings,” corruption charges related to his alleged links with a builder and functioning of some Cabinet ministers, Thackeray had softened his stand, saying that Joshi would continue to lead the governmentprovided he improved his image and credibility. Ironically, at a party meet to review the Sena’s dismal Lok Sabha performance, Thackeray praised Joshi for anticipating that the Congress pact with the Republican Party of India and the Samajwadi Party would pose a serious challenge to the establishment.