State Cong willing to admit Smita,but says no word on it

While the Maharashtra Congress said there would be no problem in accepting her if she acts on her reported desire,party sources in New Delhi expressed reservations against it saying that “Thackeray baggage” could alienate the minority community. Besides,she does not have any mass base.

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 member of the party. 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 Rajya Sabha,denying her an opportunity.

“If she has faith in the policies of the Congress,there is no problem in admitting her into our party,but she is yet to approach us formally for a primary membership,” 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 admitting 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 Raj Thackeray’s MNS. “My mother’s comments about Sonia and Rahul Gandhi are her personal views,they are not politically motivated. We had approached Balasaheb Thackeray earlier but got frustration in return. All options are open to us. We have not quit Sena. There is no intention to hurt anyone,” he said.

Meanwhile,Smita preferred to remain out of reach for comments. Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray said all were free to take own decisions. “I’m not going to say anything on the issue. I will continue doing my work… Let her decision,whatever it is,be announced,I will speak then.”

The MNS also refrained from commenting over the issue and Smita’s criticism of the violent politics of the party.

Smita’s outburst has come at a time when the Sena is in a crisis. Bal Thackeray has moved centrestage by sidelining his son and executive president of the party Uddhav after the party’s poor show in the Assembly elections. Smita would be the first member of the Thackeray clan to join the Congress,if she goes through with her plan.