Uddhav Thackeray on 'regime change': Yes, we want to overthrow this power
Synopsis
Uddhav Thackeray didn't just defend the 'regime change' label — he owned it. At a Mumbai journalists' event, the Shiv Sena chief declared his party's explicit goal is to 'overthrow this power,' attacked PM Modi and Rajnath Singh by name over Delhi police action, and called on media to be referees, not cheerleaders. It is a calculated escalation, not a slip of the tongue.
Key Takeaways
Uddhav Thackeray on 17 October 2026 publicly embraced the 'regime change' charge, declaring his party stands 'precisely to overthrow this power.' He spoke at an awards ceremony of the All India Journalists' Conference in Mumbai .
He attacked PM Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh by name over large-scale police deployment against protesters in Delhi .
Thackeray alleged brutalisation of young protesters and violence against women at the Delhi demonstrations — allegations not independently verified.
He urged journalists to act as impartial referees and called for collective societal action to safeguard democracy.
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday, 17 October 2026, launched a frontal attack on the Centre, openly embracing the 'regime change' charge levelled against the opposition. Speaking in Mumbai, Thackeray declared: 'If opposing the government democratically is branded as a regime change, then yes, we are trying to bring about a regime change, and we stand here precisely to overthrow this power.'
The 'Regime Change' Charge Reclaimed
Thackeray made his remarks at an awards ceremony organised by the All India Journalists' Conference in Mumbai. He framed his defiance as a direct response to what he described as the ruling establishment's pattern of branding dissent as anti-national activity. Invoking advocate Prashant Bhushan's recent remarks in Delhi, Thackeray asked rhetorically: 'If the ruling party claims that we are attempting to change this system, what is wrong with that?'
He argued that silence in the face of the government denying citizens their fundamental rights — including the right to vote freely and protest peacefully — was not an option the opposition could morally afford.
Sharp Attack Over Delhi Police Action
Thackeray directed pointed criticism at the deployment of police against protesters in Delhi, addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh by name. 'Have these police officers been brought in to play Dandiya during Navratri?' he asked, in a sharp rhetorical barb against the heavy security presence.
He alleged that young protesters were being brutalised, that heads were being smashed, and that women and young girls were subjected to violence, including hair-pulling and tearing of clothes. These allegations have not been independently verified, and the Centre has not formally responded to them as of the time of this report.
A Call for Collective Defence of Democracy
Drawing on a mythological parallel, Thackeray invoked the image of Lord Krishna lifting the Govardhan mountain with the collective effort of all villagers — urging every section of society, not just political actors, to participate in protecting democratic values. 'Unless collective efforts are made,' he warned, 'the crisis looming over democracy will deepen, and everyone will eventually have to bear the consequences.'
Message to the Press: Be the Referee
Addressing the gathering of media professionals, Thackeray urged journalists to maintain strict neutrality, likening their role to that of an umpire in cricket or a referee in football. He stressed that just as a referee shows a yellow or red card to a player who commits a foul — regardless of their stature — journalists must call out wrongdoing without fear or favour. 'No matter how influential or prominent a person is, journalists must show the courage to point out mistakes,' he said.
This comes amid heightened political temperatures nationally, with the opposition increasingly rallying around a common anti-incumbency narrative ahead of upcoming electoral contests. Thackeray's remarks signal that his faction intends to sharpen, not soften, its confrontational posture toward the Centre.
Point of View
Not merely political amplification. His invocation of press neutrality at a journalists' award event is also worth scrutinising — calling on media to 'show the red card' while himself seeking sympathetic coverage is a contradiction that the press should not let pass unremarked.
NationPress
17 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Uddhav Thackeray say about 'regime change'?
Thackeray openly embraced the 'regime change' label on 17 October 2026, declaring that if democratic opposition is called regime change, then yes, his party stands to overthrow the current power. He made the remarks at an All India Journalists' Conference event in Mumbai.
Why did Thackeray mention PM Modi and Rajnath Singh?
Thackeray named Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh directly while criticising the heavy deployment of police against protesters in Delhi, sarcastically asking whether officers were brought in 'to play Dandiya during Navratri.'
What allegations did Thackeray make about Delhi protests?
He alleged that young protesters were being brutalised, heads smashed, and women subjected to violence including hair-pulling and tearing of clothes. These allegations have not been independently verified and the Centre had not formally responded at the time of this report.
What did Thackeray say to journalists at the event?
He urged journalists to maintain strict neutrality, comparing their role to a cricket umpire or football referee who calls fouls regardless of the player's stature. He stressed that no person, however powerful, should be beyond press scrutiny.
What is the broader political context of these remarks?
The remarks come amid rising opposition mobilisation against the ruling establishment nationally. Thackeray's faction of Shiv Sena has been positioning itself as a key pillar of the anti-BJP front, and this speech signals an intent to sharpen rather than moderate its confrontational stance ahead of upcoming electoral contests.
