ViruRulez Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 MUMBAI: It's unthinkable that a member of Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray's deep-saffron family will switch to the enemy camp. But that's what Smita Thackeray, his 48-year-old daughter-in-law, appears to be doing in suddenly announcing her decision to join Sonia Gandhi's Congress party. `I have become a big admirer of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and want to be part of the good work being done by them for the country,'' she told TOI on Friday. The reasons for Smita's decision are two. One, she feels the Shiv Sena is being unfair to Maharashtrians with its parochial and divisive politics and two, she was being systematically marginalised by powerful elements in the Thackeray household. `I cannot stand the suffocation any more and have decided to join the Congress, which has a national and global vision. I now feel most comfortable with the Congress ideology.''And there was more gushing praise for the first family of Indian politics. `I personally admire the way Soniaji has been leading the party and the country. Even though Rahul is maintaining a low profile, he too is doing enormous work for the nation,'' she said. Smita said she was in touch with senior leaders of the Congress in New Delhi, and it was only a question of time before she formally stepped into the party. She is likely to call on Sonia Gandhi and Rahul in the capital soon. For the Congress it will be a prize catch, and indications are that Smita will be given an important post in the organisation. A politically ambitious person, Smita was a power centre in Maharashtra when the Sena-BJP alliance came to power in 1995. Several IAS, IPS officials and businessmen waited on her, seeking some favour or the other. The perception was that she was the person closest to Balasaheb. `The fact that I am Saheb's daughter-in-law certainly helped. In fact, I owe everything to him and continue to hold him in high regard. But over the years, I found that certain elements in the household, who shall remain unnamed for the present, were seeking to marginalise me.' She accused other Thackeray loyalists of trying to hurt her in several ways. ``They tried to dent my identity as a social activist and film producer. People in Bollywood used to get calls from these people, warning them against any association with me,'' she said. Smita said that her father-in-law, who was earlier very supportive, himself failed to keep his promises to her. ``I was promised a berth in the Rajya Sabha, but I was shocked when I learnt that my seat had been given to journalist Bharat Kumar Raut. In the assembly election too, I was promised a ticket, but it was denied to me for no apparent reason. One of my articles was published in the Sena mouthpiece, Saamna. But when I took the second article to Balasaheb, who is the editor, he refused to publish it. I got the message that I was not wanted any more, and tore up the article on the spot. It is painful to politically dissociate myself from the Sena, but I have no choice,'' she said. Smita, who is the estranged wife of Bal Thackeray's son Jaidev, said she never considered the MNS an alternative since she did not agree with Raj Thackeray's politics. ``I am extremely proud to be a Maharashtrian,'' she said. ``I speak only in Marathi with my two sons at home. In fact the first film being produced by my son Rahul, who has trained in film-making in Toronto, is in Marathi. But I want Maharashtrians to change with the changing times. English is today a powerful tool of communication. Even the Chinese are realising this. I want Maharashtrians to be exposed to the literature of not only P L Deshpande, but also of Premchand and other great writers in other languages. I am against attacks on fellow Indians and the damaging of public property.'' Smita wrote an article in a Marathi daily recently advocating her views on language, and said she received ``over 200 emails'' from Maharashtrians endorsing her views. Asked for her views on Uddhav, she replied: ``I think Balasaheb gave him a big post too early. He should have been trained in politics before being given such a huge responsibility.'' Even though she lives in a spacious bungalow in Juhu, Smita retains her room in Matoshree, the Thackeray home in Bandra East. Since she is the first Thackeray to join the Congress, does she fear the consequences? ``I have an identity of my own and am old enough to take decisions for myself. I do not fear anyone,'' she answered firmly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViruRulez Posted November 28, 2009 Author Share Posted November 28, 2009 Shiv Sena silent as Smita Thackeray plans to join Congress The Shiv Sena on Saturday literally switched to silent mode as party chief Bal Thackeray's daughter-in-law Smita Jaidev Thackeray said she planned to join the Congress. The phones of top Sena leaders remained 'unavailable', 'switched off' or 'not reachable since a prominent national daily broke the news, suddenly diverting the party's attention from the election for a new Mumbai mayor to replace incumbent Shubha Raul. According to an interview with the English daily, Smita has claimed that she is being sidelined by a coterie in Matoshree, the Sena chief's residence in Bandra East, and was being denied her due in the party. She has also alleged that she was promised a berth in Rajya Sabha last year, but at the last minute it was given to senior journalist Bharat Kumar Raut. Expressing her frustration, Smita -- the estranged wife of Thackeray's son Jaidev -- has also said that she is feeling stifled and "suffocated" in Matoshree. The 48-year-old Thacekray bahu is enamoured by the leadership qualities of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul, and says both of them are doing a great job of leading the country. Expressing her admiration for Sonia and Rahul as well as the Congress ideology, Smita said she plans to call on them and join the national ruling party soon. Besides being deprived of any personal progress and getting marginalised in the Shiv Sena, Smita said that the party is being "unfair to Maharashtrians" with its divisive and parochial politics. She also frowned upon attacks on fellow Indians in the name of language and regionalism. Smita, who loves to dabble with Bollywood and has produced a couple of Hindi films including "Haseena Maan Jayegi", had grown into a power centre during the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rule in Maharashtra 1995-99. She continued to live in Matoshree with the Thackeray family though her husband had left the household several years ago. However, a few years ago, she moved into a separate bungalow in Juhu as it kept her close to the hub of Bollywood. Her son Rahul, who has learnt the craft of filmmaking from abroad, is on the verge of making his first film in Marathi. If and when Smita joins the Congress, it will be the second big defection from the Shiv Sena since Bal Thackeray's nephew, Raj Thackeray, left the party nearly three years ago to launch the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViruRulez Posted November 28, 2009 Author Share Posted November 28, 2009 She is shifting from one thug party to the other and trying to look like a saint. :hehe: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Tendulkar Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 What does she look like? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViruRulez Posted November 28, 2009 Author Share Posted November 28, 2009 What does she look like? Just made a google search and found a few pics. It is also mentioned that she is a Bollywood movie producer and has produced movies like "Haseena Maan Jayegi" etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suraj Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 Just made a google search and found a few pics. It is also mentioned that she is a Bollywood movie producer and has produced movies like "Haseena Maan Jayegi" etc. MILF?? SORT OF?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suma25 Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 MILF?? SORT OF?? well you can ask her boy toy sonu nigam that. He might have an idea.:winky: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DomainK Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 Just made a google search and found a few pics. It is also mentioned that she is a Bollywood movie producer and has produced movies like "Haseena Maan Jayegi" etc. Haseena maan jayegi is one of my favorite movies. I think Govinda was excellent in the role of chacha in that. Also Paresh Rawal was outstanding in a small role. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suma25 Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 Just made a google search and found a few pics. It is also mentioned that she is a Bollywood movie producer and has produced movies like "Haseena Maan Jayegi" etc. suprising no sign of sonu nigam in anyone of those pics.:giggle: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Tendulkar Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 Was quite impressed by Mulyam Singhs daughter in law Dimple. I would have voted for her:winky: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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