New Delhi, November 29: Smita Thackeray, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray’s estranged daughter-in-law, may get entry into the Congress family but find her celebrity status fast wearing off.
On Saturday, Congress indicated it was willing to let Smita in but did not specify when. Party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi came up with a low-key response to Smita’s decision to walk out of the Sena. ‘‘Whether Smita Thackeray can be admitted, if so when and how, in what manner, are decisions taken at a different level on which I cannot comment,’’ Singhvi said in what many read as a deliberate attempt to tamp down on feelings Congress was all set to roll out the red carpet.
The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) gleefully said Smita was welcome to join. MPCC general secretary and spokesperson Hussein Dalwai told, ‘‘She is most welcome to join us since she has openly declared her appreciation of Congress ideology and the leadership provided by Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.’’ He said he was unaware who was facilitating her entry, but confirmed that she was on the fast track to joining the party. Smita revealed her plans on Friday in an exclusive interview.
New Delhi: Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray’s estranged daughter-in-law, Smita, told that she was unhappy with the Shiv Sena and she was in touch with the Congress leadership to sign up. She said she planned to call on Congress president Sonia Gandhi and AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi soon. Her interview stunned the Shiv Sena and created a flutter in political circles.
Most leaders of the Sena declined to comment on the development. Sena MP Sanjay Raut said, ‘‘Except Uddhav or Bal Thackeray nobody in the Sena will react to her interview.’’ Sena chief executive Uddhav Thackeray said, ‘‘She was free to take a decision,’’ indicating that she would not be stopped from exiting. A senior Sena leader, who preferred to be anonymous, stated: ‘‘Smita’s exit will damage our party’s image.
First it was Chhagan Bhujbal, then Narayan Rane followed by Raj Thackeray and now Smita Thackeray. It reflects very poorly on our party. The ordinary Shiv Sainik, who is already demoralised by the defeat in two consecutive assembly elections, will be upset even more now.’’
Smita was unavailable to mediapersons. But speaking on behalf of his mother, her eldest son, Rahul, who is a film producer confirmed to the media that Smita was indeed unhappy with the Sena and that ‘‘her options are open.’’
‘‘She wants to move forward in politics. But there was no good response from Shiv Sena to her desire. It is not that she has left the Shiv Sena, but her options are open,’’ he said.
He said that his mother had all the respect for the Shiv Sena supremo and has not said anything against him.
Congress, with its rich tradition of getting celebrity imports house-trained, is unlikely to act swiftly to pre-empt any feeling that it was eager to have Thackeray’s once-favourite bahu.
-Agencies