Thackeray's second son to join NCP

MUMBAI: In an apparent setback to Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray, his son Jaydev (48) announced on Thursday that he would soon join the Nationalist Congress Party led by Sharad Pawar. Pawar is Bal Thackeray''s arch rival and Jaydev''s decision is certain to cause hugeembarrassment to the Sena chief and the party''s rank and file.
"I like the way Pawar has built up his party, which has several good leaders," Jaydev told TOI on Thursday.Jaydev, who is Bal Thackeray''s second son, has been estranged fromhis father for the last ten years. The eldest son, Binda, a film producer, died in a road accident some years ago, while the youngest son, Uddhav, is the executive president of the party. Jaydev had stayed away from politics all these years. His move to enter the political arena comes close on the heels of a local family court''s decision to grant him a divorce from his wife Smita.
Asked why he did not join the Sena, Jaydev replied, "I do not like the way the Sena has been functioning." He did not utter a word against his father, but showered praise on Pawar.He said he would be meeting Pawar shortly to discuss the modalities of his entry into the NCP. "There is infighting in the Congress. But the NCP is different. It has no factionalism. I have watched Pawar''s functioning. The decisionmaking in the NCP is prompt. Also, it has capable leaders like deputy chief minister R R Patil," he added.
He said he enjoyed a good equation with all NCP leaders "except one". The reference was obviously to Chhagan Bhujbal who, as home minister, had sought to arrest him. He said the Sena lost the recent assembly election because it had chosen the wrong candidates. Jaydev said he had never hankered after money since he was inspired by the ideals of his grandfather, the late Prabodhankar Thackeray, who was a social reformer.
Jaydev said he had not discussed his political plans with his father. "But I intend to meet him as soon as possible to discuss my plan," he added.He does not have amass base, but theNCPis certain to use him to bait the Sena patriarch.