AICC,NCP wary of Smita Thackeray’s offer

Congress’s ally NCP too expressed reservations. “What is the advantage of taking her into the Congress? She brings more negative than positive. A large section of people,especially the minority community,are against Thackeray’s kind of politics. If somebody is trying to settle personal scores,what have we got to do with it?” a top NCP leader told The Sunday Express.

AICC spokesman Manish Tewari said,“While we are thankful to Smita Thackeray for her sentiments (for praising Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi),when it comes to the question of membership,there is an ongoing campaign whereby any person can enroll himself or herself as a party member. However,with regard to the entry of certain individuals,an appropriate decision is taken by the Pradesh Congress Committee concerned.”

Smita,the estranged wife of Bal Thackeray’s son Jaidev,has been a key member of the Thackeray family’s inner power circle. But she was reported telling a section of the media on Saturday that she was feeling suffocated by the Sena brand of politics and had come to admire the vision of the Congress and its leaders. She also said she had been marginalised in the Sena and the party chose to nominate Bharatkumar Raut to the RS,denying her an opportunity.

“If she has faith in the policies of the Congress,there is no problem in admitting her,but she is yet to approach us formally ,” Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Manikrao Thakre told The Sunday Express. “She is apparently in touch with some of our leaders in Delhi. Our party will have to take a decision about her and then we’ll enroll her as a primary member.”

Smita’s son Rahul told reporters that the Thackeray family,including his mother,respected Bal Thackeray and that his mother had kept all options open. He,however,said she would not join MNS.

Meanwhile,Smita Thackeray preferred to remain out of reach for comments. She would be the first member of the Thackeray clan to join the Congress,if she goes through with her plan. Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray said everyone was free to take his or her own decisions.