— PHOTO: VIVEK BENDRE

NEW PLANS: Raj Thackeray at a press conference in Mumbai on Sunday.

MUMBAI: Raj Thackeray quit the Shiv Sena on Sunday, saying he had done his best to stay but could not. Making the announcement at a press conference, he said he would form a political party soon.

He would tour Maharashtra next year and then decide on the party's formation, what line it should take, and how it should function.

Mr. Raj resigned as Shiv Sena leader and president of the Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena, the party's youth wing, on November 27.

"I suffered"

He said since his resignation from the party posts, the media had been in a big hurry to know his future plans. Nobody had any idea of what he had undergone after quitting the party posts.

"What I suffered should not be inflicted even on my enemies. I was caught between the party on the one side and my family, on the other."

Since morning, his supporters started gathering outside his house in Shivaji Park.

The road leading to the press conference venue, Shivaji Park gymkhana, was packed with people carrying banners and posters. Mr. Raj's announcement was greeted with bursts of crackers and slogans.

Meets Bal Thackeray

He said he had met Sena chief and uncle, Bal Thackeray, a few days ago. He did not disclose what took place at the meeting but said Mr. Bal Thackeray had offered him charge of three regions — Nasik, Pune and Konkan.

"I told him my thinking was different, and it was not possible for me to work like this any longer," Mr. Raj said. "Why should I look after the Konkan region," he asked, indicating that someone else was behind the suggestion.

He read out the letter he sent to Mr. Bal Thackeray on November 25, where he had castigated the functioning of the party and the fact that it lost the Malvan by-election.

He asked if working president Uddhav Thackeray was not accountable for the defeat.

As there was no response to the letter, he quit the party posts.

"Still a God"

Reiterating that Mr. Bal Thackeray was still "god" for him, Mr. Raj said his political thinking was similar to that of his uncle; therefore, he could not join another party. He had examined all possibilities, and he felt that a new party was necessary for Maharashtra's sake. He did not want to split the Sena and take people away from the party. Many elected Sena members had called him to express their support.

"He is my brother"

At Matoshree, Mr. Bal Thackeray's residence, some Sena supporters gathered to express support.

Talking to mediapersons, Mr. Uddhav Thackeray expressed sadness at Mr. Raj's move. "Apart from being in the same party, Raj is also my brother," he said.

"I have been saying that he should come and talk about the issues which he raised, but his stand did not change even after he met my father."

It was natural for him, his father and all Shiv Sainiks to feel bad about Mr. Raj's decision, and none wanted this to happen.

"Raj's decision to quit was sudden, and he gave no indication of what was to come. I did not expect this of Raj. While Raj refused to accept the proposal put forward by Mr. Bal Thackeray, he also did not say what he wanted."

"Some misunderstanding"

Mr. Uddhav said his father was aware of what was going on in the party, and he had full control. "He may wear goggles, but he is no Dritharashtra."

"If there was something remiss with the party, Balasaheb would have noticed it," he said. "The issues raised by Mr. Raj are a result of some misunderstanding."

Asked how Mr. Raj's move would impact the party, Mr. Uddhav said the Sena would be affected only if its morale was broken, which was not the case here.

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