Pioneer In Short
Uddhav signals exit as Rebel row grows
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Friday said he was ready to step down from party leadership if there was a lack of trust in him, amid a rebellion by six of his party's Lok Sabha MPs. Addressing the party's 60th foundation day event in Mumbai, Thackeray said he had led the organisation for over a decade and faced repeated political challenges and personal attacks. He, however, stressed he was not "hungry for power" and would be willing to relinquish the top post, provided the party did not fall into the hands of "traitors". "I would be happy if someone from within the party becomes president, but I will not allow it to go to thieves," he said, adding that he would not tolerate allegations against him.
The remarks came a day after six of the party's nine Lok Sabha MPs skipped a crucial parliamentary meeting, defying a whip. Only three MPs attended the meeting and were later felicitated at the event. Thackeray rejected claims that the party could merge with the Congress and accused political rivals of engineering defections. He also criticised the BJP, alleging it was weakening democratic competition by luring Opposition legislators. Reaffirming his political stand, Thackeray said Shiv Sena (UBT) was founded to protect Marathi identity and Hindutva, and warned against what he described as a "one party, no election" trend.
Deputy Governor Poonam Gupta noted that global and weather-related risks should be allowed to unfold before any policy pivot, warning that premature tightening could intensify economic stress. Executive Director Indranil Bhattacharyya emphasised the need to distinguish between demand-driven and supply-driven inflation, arguing that supply shocks require gradual policy responses and greater data clarity. External members also backed the pause. Nagesh Kumar highlighted geopolitical risks clouding the outlook, while Saugata Bhattacharya flagged elevated inflation expectations and the risk of second-round price pressures. Ram Singh said retaining a neutral stance preserves policy flexibility amid uncertain external conditions. The RBI has lowered its growth forecast for 2026-27 to 6.6 per cent while projecting inflation at 5.1 per cent. Earlier this month, the central bank also signalled risks of rising costs and weaker growth, even as it announced measures to support capital inflows and the rupee.
