"We will ask Gite to put in his papers after Prime Minister Narendra Modi returns from his US trip," the Sena president told mediapersons on Monday.
Observers say Uddhav has, in a manner of speaking, acknowledged the validity and logic of Raj's argument.
"There are ample indications that the two cousins may move closer after the assembly polls," sources close to the Thackeray khandaan said, indicating a possibility of floor coordination between Sena and MNS should Sena emerge as the single largest party after the state legislative assembly polls.
What lends credence to the talk is Raj's Sunday speech in Kandivli wherein he slammed BJP and sought greater autonomy for Maharashtra, say observers. Many Sainiks pointed out that while riling the Sena for being subservient to BJP during seat-sharing talks, the MNS chief also revealed a soft spot for his cousin.
"Raj-saheb lashed out at BJP for humiliating Uddhav-ji. Only a brother can feel the pinch when his brother is insulted," said Prakash Tendolkar, a Sena sympathiser from Chembur, echoing the setiments of countless Sena and MNS workers.
A key MNS functionary said, "Rajsaheb spoke of more autonomy for Maharashtra. In the days to come, Sena will endorse the MNS chief's regional agenda."
A former bureaucrat, who held crucial portfolios during the Sena-BJP regime in the 1990s, said there was nothing wrong in the Sena-MNS pursuing a regional agenda. "Two regional parties in one state are not a rarity in our country. Take for instance, DMK and AIADMK in Tamil Nadu or Mulayam Singh Yadav's SP and Mayawati's BSP in Uttar Pradesh," he pointed out.
Stating that the Sena-MNS may well be at loggerheads even if they share a common agenda, the civil servant said, "However, they should be firm in their resolve not to let national parties cut the ground from under their feet. BJP president Amit Shah succeeded in breaking SP-BSP supremacy in UP in the recent Lok Sabha elections. This must have made both Sena and MNS sit up and think. This explains Raj's statement that there was no room for national parties in Maharashtra."
Meanwhile, the Sena mouthpiece Saamna has lashed out at RPI chief Ramdas Athavale for joining hands with the BJP after the saffron alliance came to an end. In a leader comment, it said BJP lured RPI with "goodies"—a 10% share in power. "By switching over to BJP, Athavale has deceived his Dalit followers," said Saamna.
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