Balasaheb's loyal servant left Uddhav's side; for 30 years he served in Matoshree, now Shinde joined

Once very close to Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray and one of the loyalists of his residence Matoshree, Sampa Singh Thapa also left Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Monday. Sampa Singh joined Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at a public function on the occasion of Navratri in Thane. Thapa is said to have worked in Matoshree for 30 years as Balasaheb's shadow. Balasaheb used to take food and water only from Sampa's hands.

After Balasaheb's death, the distance between him and the Uddhav family had started increasing and Shiv Sena leaders who went to Matoshree said that they had not seen Sampa Singh around Uddhav Thackeray for the last several years. After joining the Shinde faction, Sampa Singh said, 'My ideology is similar to that of Eknath Shinde, so I have joined him.'

Thapa became close to Balasaheb after Meenatai's death

It is said that after the death of Balasaheb Thackeray's wife Meenatai Thackeray, Thapa, a resident of Nepal, became the shadow of Balasaheb Thackeray. Whenever Balasaheb used to go out, Sampa Singh also used to accompany him. After the death of Balasaheb, people saw him crying at Shivaji Park in the year 2012 during his last visit.

I will be with Eknath Shinde as his shadow

Sampa Singh said on Monday, 'After Balasaheb's departure, I kept meeting Uddhav Thackeray in between, but my mind said that I should stay with Eknath Shinde. So came here on the day of Navratri and joined Shinde Sahab. I have been like a shadow with Balasaheb Thackeray and will be like a shadow with Shinde Saheb in the future.'

Sampa worked as a watchman in Thane

Sampa Singh Thapa came from Nepal to work in Mumbai from Chimouli village on the Indo-Nepal border about 40 years ago. Sampa Singh worked as a watchman in the Royal Security Agency of PK Ghosh, a Bengali businessman in Thane, adjacent to Mumbai. He stayed at Ghosh's bungalow as a watchman for many years.

First meeting with Balasaheb Thackeray

While doing odd jobs in Goregaon, he met Bhandup's corporator K.T. Balasaheb met Thackeray for the first time in 1980 with Thapa. One day Balasaheb Thackeray asked him to cook for Matoshree after hearing his calm nature and KT Thapa's appreciation for his food.

At the age of 20, for the first time cooked food for Bala Saheb

When Thapa first cooked food for Balasaheb, he was 20 years old. Bal Thackeray liked his food so much that he asked Thapa to stay with him, which Sampa Singh readily accepted. , he was living with Balasaheb since 1985.

Used to take care of Balasaheb's daily routine and medicines too

After the untimely death of Meenatai Thackeray, Thapa took charge of Balasaheb's medicines and his routine. Sampa Singh tells that Balasaheb considered him as Matoshree i.e. a member of his family. He never lacked anything while he was alive. Right next to Balasaheb Thackeray's room in Matoshree was a small room of Sampa Singh. Sampa Singh was very close to Balasaheb even in his last days.

Never took long leave while Balasaheb was alive

Thapa never took any long leave till Bal Thackeray was alive, as he never wanted to leave Thackeray. It takes three to four days for Thapa to reach his distant village in Nepal. He had taken the longest leave of seven days at the time of his son's marriage. They attended the wedding for a few hours and returned to Mumbai soon after completing the rituals. He keeps his family in Chimoli.

Worked to establish Shiv Sena in Nepal

It is also said that Sampa Singh had a big hand in establishing Shiv Sena in Nepal. He had built up a huge base of youth there. However, after the death of Balasaheb, the Shiv Sena weakened a lot there too. There is also a majority of people living in Nepal in Mumbai and it is believed that the Shinde faction has managed to win a big vote bank in the upcoming BMC elections by including Sampa Singh in the party.

Shinde wants to give an emotional message on the pretext of Sampa Singh

Let us tell you that there is a tussle between Shinde and Uddhav faction regarding the Dussehra rally. In such a situation, Eknath Shinde has tried to give a big message to Shiv Sainiks by pulling Matoshree's confidence toward him. Political experts say that by including Sampa Singh, CM Eknath Shinde wants to prove that after Balasaheb, Uddhav had started the work of sidelining his trusted people. What they want to point out is that not just MLAs; MPs, councilors, and his close confidante are also leaving Uddhav.