Uddhav Thackeray Revives '50 Khokha' Jibe at Eknath Shinde After 2022 Split

Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday revived his "50 khokha" jibe at Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde, questioning what the "rate" of MPs would be after claiming MLAs were allegedly bought for Rs 50 crore during the 2022 Shiv Sena split.

Addressing a press conference in Yavatmal, Thackeray referred to the popular political slogan, "50 khokhe, ekdum OK", which alleges that rebel Shiv Sena MLAs were paid Rs 50 crore each to switch loyalties during the 2022 rebellion led by Shinde.

"Shinde is sitting over there, having committed betrayal. Back then it was written on the bullocks -- '50 crores'. The going rate of MLAs was 50 crores -- so what must it be now?" ANI quoted Thackeray saying, in an apparent reference to the recent rebellion involving party MPs.

Turning his attack on the rebel leaders, Thackeray accused them of betraying the trust of Shiv Sena workers and voters.

"At my suggestion, I gave you a scarecrow... you elected him, and for that I apologise. You elected him only on the face of the Shiv Sena chief and on my words. He betrayed us and blackened the trust you placed in him. There is a herd of traitors," he said.

The latest remarks come days after the split in the Shiv Sena (UBT) widened, with six rebel Lok Sabha MPs formally joining the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena on Monday.

The MPs were inducted by Shinde at a press conference in Mumbai, marking their first joint public appearance since speculation over their defection began and further deepening the rift within the Thackeray camp.