MUMBAI: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Friday apologised to voters after six of his Lok Sabha MPs indicated that they would join the Shiv Sena (Shinde) faction. Attacking the BJP, Thackeray alleged that the party was poaching leaders from other parties and warned that elections could soon become irrelevant. "I apologise to the voters of these constituencies. Even during the Modi wave, voters trusted me and elected nine MPs. Now these people have been broken away. What are you (BJP) trying to achieve here?" Thackeray said while addressing party workers at the 60th foundation day celebrations of the Sena (UBT). Thackeray also attacked the rebel MPs, saying they had "backstabbed Maharashtra" by switching sides.'Ready to quit as chief if no faith in me': Uddhav Thackeray rejects Congress merger claims"You (the six MPs) are claiming that you left because you feared we were going to merge with the Congress. We did not merge with the Congress earlier... we were with the BJP for 30 years we didn't merge with them then, so why will we merge now?.. How will you wash away these sins? This betrayal will be remembered for centuries, and you will be labelled as traitors," he said. "To defeat Mamata Banerjee, they sent 2.5 lakh armed forces personnel. For what purpose? To win elections. Why didn't you send these forces to Manipur? Why don't you capture PoK with these forces? We would have supported you," he said. Thackeray also said he was willing to step down from the organisation if party workers felt he was no longer capable of leading it.This is just a trailer, film yet to come: Shinde on buzz of 6 Sena (UBT) MPs' likely switchoverA few kilometres away in Mumbai's western suburbs, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde was holding a separate rally in Goregaon to mark the Shiv Sena's 60th foundation day. "Those who forget saffron (Hindutva) will never attain power. You hurt Balasaheb Thackeray when he was alive and even after his death by aligning with Congress, which he always hated. Congress had broken the party, and now you are praising them while attacking us," Shinde said.Referring to the MPs joining his faction, Shinde remarked, "A lot of people want to join us. There is a waiting list."