Uddhav Thackeray Pandharpur rally highlights: Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray while addressing the rally in Solapur’s Pandharpur took on the BJP saying his party won’t be part of the NDA alliance in 2019 Lok Sabha polls.He also spoke on Ram Mandir and Rafale deal. On the issue of Ram Mandir, he said that even after 30 years it is being said that the matter is in the court. He added that discussion on the same must be held in the Parliament.
Thackeray’s rally is seen as a part of his campaign to garner public support for a temple at the disputed site. The rally comes a month after Uddhav Thackeray’s maiden visit to Ayodhya along with his family to offer prayers to Ram Lalla.
According to the Shiv Sena’s claims, lakhs of Thackeray’s supporters from Mumbai, Konkan, Marathwada and Vidarbha will attend the rally in Pandharpur. The rally will be organised at a 27-acre plot. Several top priests are also likely to attend the rally. Separate arrangements have been made to accommodate the saints.
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Uddhav Thackeray rally in Pandharpur LIVE Updates: Shiv Sena's mega push for Ram Mandir
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Shiv Sena chief Uddav Thackeray said his party wont be part of NDA in 2019 general elections. With anumber of parties leaving NDA in recent time, this could be a major jolt for the alliance.
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has started addressing rally in Pandharpur.
Thackeray had duing a recent media interation said that the issue of construction of the Ram temple is not over. He had even called the Modi government like Kumbhakaran (brother of Ravan) to say 'it is in a Kumbhakaran-like sleep and there is a need to wake it up'. "The government cannot keep pointing finger at the Supreme Court," the Sena chief had said.
The Dharma Sabha of Shiv Sena is intended to push its ruling NDA ally, Bharatiya Janata Party, to immediately declare the date for the construction of the Ram temple.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad is also holding meetings across the country to garner support in favour of Ram Mandir. On November 25, the right-wing outfit had organised a Dharma Sabha that was attended by nearly 3 lakh people. On December 9, the VHP organsied a similar event at Ramlila Maidan.
It likely that Uddhav Thackeray will speak on the Ram temple issue. It is worth mentioning here that Sena has joined the VHP and RSS to mount pressure on the BJP to fulfil its promise of Ram mandir. Thackeray is also likely to speak on drought issue. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had recently met PM Modi to apprise him about the drought situation in the state and sought assistance from the Centre.
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray is likely to arrive at Pandharpur in the afternoon. He will then seek blessings of Lord Vitthala and then proceed to address the rally. Thackeray is also slated to perform aarti on the banks of Chandrabhaga river.
According to Shiv Sena, lakhs of party workers from Mumbai, Konkan, western Maharashtra, Marathwada and Vidarbha will attend Uddhav Thackeray's rally in Pandharpur. The Sena has made special arrangements to accommodate people on a 27-acre plot. Besides, there will be a separate dais for the priests.
Uddhav Thackeray's rally in Pandharpur comes exactly a month after his Ayodhya visit. During his maiden visit to Ayodhya, Thackeray had offered prayers to the Ram lalla and called on the Modi government to clear its stand on the Ram Mandir issue. Thackeray has been attacking the BJP over its failure to keep the promise of constructing a Ram Mandir at disputed site in Ayodhya.
The Shiv Sena has already made it clear that it will contest the next Lok Sabha and Assembly polls solo. Speaking to The Indian Express, a Sena leader said that Uddhav Thackeray is likely to hold more such rallies in Vidarbha and Marathwada in coming months in a bid to garner public support ahead of the elections.
Speaking to The Indian Express on term of anonymity, a Shiv Sena leader said that the venue for today's rally was fanalised after making all the calculations. "Since we have decided to go solo, we need to expand our base and win more seats,” the leader told the daily.
Pandharpur is a famous pilgrimage town situated on the banks of Chandrabhaga river in Solapur district of Maharashtra. The Vithoba temple attracts Hindu pilgrims during the yatra in the Hindi month of Ashadh. If reports are to go by, the Sena's event in Pandharpur is seen as an attempt to expand its base in western Maharashtra. Citing a Sena leader, a report in The Indian Express said that the party strategically chose Pandharpur for the rally to expand its base in western Maharashtra.
During his Ayodhya visit on November 24, 25, the Sena chief had asked the BJP to declare the date for construction of Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya. Thackeray had with his family offered prayers to Ram Lalla here and expressed hope that a grand Ram temple will be constructed soon.
Shiv Sena MP and secretary Anil Desai said that lakhs of people will attend Uddhav Thackeray's rally in Pandharpur. “Lord Vitthala is the state deity and is known as southern Kashi. Besides, chief minister comes to perform puja here annually. So, due to this, we have chosen Pandharpur to hold the rally,” he said .