Uddhav Thackeray Aide Set to Sue Ramdas Kadam Over Explosive Bal Thackeray Deathbed Claims

A political firestorm has erupted in Maharashtra, fueled by sensational claims from Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) leader Ramdas Kadam regarding the final moments of party patriarch Bal Thackeray. These allegations, which question the presence of Uddhav Thackeray and other family members during Thackeray's death, have provoked a fierce response from the Shiv Sena (UBT) camp, with a close aide of Uddhav Thackeray now vowing legal action.

Subhash Desai, a prominent leader and staunch supporter of Uddhav Thackeray, has confirmed his intention to file a defamation suit against Ramdas Kadam.

Desai asserts that Kadam's assertions are baseless and malicious, designed to tarnish the image of Uddhav Thackeray and his family. "Kadam is making false claims regarding Balasaheb's last moments," Desai stated emphatically. "There is no truth to his allegations that Uddhav Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray, or Rashmi Thackeray were absent during Balasaheb's passing.

I, along with several other leaders, was present at Matoshree during those critical hours. Kadam's remarks are an insult to the Thackeray family, and we will pursue legal action against him."

The controversy stems from Kadam's recent public statements where he alleged that while many Shiv Sena leaders rushed to Matoshree on November 17, 2012, to be by Bal Thackeray's side, Uddhav Thackeray, his wife Rashmi, and son Aaditya were not present in the room when the iconic leader breathed his last.

Kadam further claimed that it was Uddhav Thackeray who had prevented other party members from entering Thackeray's room, a charge vehemently denied by the UBT faction.

Adding another layer of complexity to the unfolding drama, Kadam also pointed fingers at former Chief Minister and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, alleging that Pawar visited Matoshree twice during Balasaheb's final illness but was purportedly not allowed to meet him by Uddhav Thackeray.

This claim has been widely refuted by the UBT camp, which maintains that Pawar did indeed meet Thackeray, especially in his later years, highlighting a complex relationship between the two political stalwarts.

This latest spat underscores the deeply entrenched animosity between the two Shiv Sena factions that emerged after the party's vertical split in June 2022.

The Shinde faction, now allied with the BJP, and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), continue to engage in a bitter battle for the legacy and political inheritance of Bal Thackeray. Kadam, a long-time Shiv Sena leader who shifted allegiance to the Shinde camp, has been particularly vocal in his criticism of Uddhav Thackeray.

His recent remarks are seen as a calculated move to further undermine Uddhav Thackeray's claim to his father's political mantle and emotional connect with the Shiv Sainiks.

The impending defamation suit promises to escalate this political feud, likely bringing more intense scrutiny to the events surrounding Bal Thackeray's death and potentially unearthing further details from that sensitive period.

As Maharashtra gears up for upcoming elections, such emotionally charged accusations are expected to play a significant role in shaping public opinion and loyalty within the state's political landscape.