Bal Thackeray consoles Gopinath Munde, says deceit integral to politics

Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray has consoled senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde, who suffered a setback in his home turf in the election for Municipal Council President at the hands of his nephew, saying that deceit is part and parcel of politics.

"Munde must be feeling insulted and cheated. However, dishonesty is the order of the day in politics. A dishonest person is considered the political 'Lokpal'. Munde should not lose hope. Ups and downs, success and failures are normal in politics. One has to learn to digest deceit as well," Thackeray said in an edit in party mouthpiece Saamana.

"People should teach such deceitful leaders a lesson in elections and prove that they are the real Lokpals," he said. Thackeray noted that in the politics of power,ideology and blood relations have no value.

Nephews have got unnecessary importance in Maharashtra politics in present times, the Sena patriarch, who faced revolt from his own nephew Raj Thackeray a few years ago, said.

"They revolt against their uncles saying that they are being surrounded by coterie and how they are being held hostage by such people. However,the nephews must know that they have back stabbed their own uncles who worked hard to rise from the grassroots and make a name for themselves. The nephews benefit from fruits of their uncle's hard work," he said.

According to him, if Munde had not created his base in Beed district and carved a niche for himself in state politics with the help of late Pramod Mahajan, nobody from Munde family would have been able to enter politics.

Dhananjay ensured the defeat of his uncle's candidate and the party's official nominee in the Parli Municipal council president's election recently. Thackeray asked Munde to find out the 'insider' who helped Dhananjay revolt.