Sunday, November 27 2005 11:35 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: The ongoing controversy following Sena leader Raj Thackeray's unhappiness against his cousin and Sena executive president, Uddhav Thackeray's style of functioning does not seem to subside, with the latter yesterday (Nov 26, 2005) stating that 'he was not responsible for the controversy'.

"Vivad mere upar se nahi hain" (the controversy is not because of me), Uddhav said after meeting senior party leaders here.

Raj had expressed unhappiness over the way the two by-elections (Malwan assembly and Mumbai north-west Lok Sabha) were handled by Uddhav, in which the Sena suffered a humiliating defeat. Raj has dashed off a letter to the Sena chief, in which he is understood to have demanded that Uddhav own responsibility for the debacle.

Reacting to Raj's apprehensions, Uddhav brushed aside any impact the reported unhappiness of his younger cousin Raj may cause on the party, and said `there is no uncertainty in the party'.

With Raj Thackeray expected to return to Mumbai tomorrow after a brief tour of Nasik, party leaders said any solution can be found after discussions with the two brothers. Yet they said that it was only upto the Sena supremo to bring the controversy to an end.

"The issue can be resolved only by the Shiv Sena chief," senior Sena leader Manohar Joshi told reporters. Joshi is believed to be holding discussions with the two cousins to bring about a settle on the issue.

Interestingly, Raj Thackeray, who reportedly dashed off a letter to the Sena chief yesterday, expressing unhappiness over the style of functioning of Uddhav, has maintained a studied silence on the issue.