Mumbai: As Mumbai gears up for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, speculation is swirling about who Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray will eventually align with: estranged cousin Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) or the ruling Mahayuti alliance of which the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena is a constituent.
Even as Raj Thackeray sends mixed signals, both the MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) are intensifying efforts to strengthen their ground-level cadre infrastructure.
On Monday, MNS held meetings of its cadres and functionaries where, according to party sources, leaders complained to Raj about underperforming shakha-level workers.
Raj has asked that workers who are not performing be removed, it is learnt. “Raj saheb said that those functionaries, be it shakha adhyaksh or vibhag adhyaksh, whoever it is, if they are not performing their duties well, an alternative needs to be found for them. He has asked us to submit a report about these functionaries by 30 June,” a party functionary told ThePrint on condition of anonymity.
Office-bearers of the party will meet again on 30 June to decide the next course of action.
This meeting comes against the backdrop of talks about a possible tie-up with the Shiv Sena (UBT). Its leader, Kishori Pednekar, visited a blood donation camp organised by MNS leader Sandip Deshpande on Raj Thackeray’s birthday on 14 June.
Pednekar told the media, “Ground-level workers and leaders seem to be excited about the prospects of us coming together. There is no bitterness in our minds. When Raj ji spoke about the alliance, Uddhav ji immediately responded positively. Even voters want it. So two brothers should decide quickly, else time will pass,” she said
Deshpande agreed but said that ground-level enthusiasm alone wouldn’t help seal an alliance. “Both our parties run on orders from leadership. So this decision needs to be taken by both leaders, and we will follow whatever decision Raj saheb takes,” Deshpande told the media.
However, amid this speculation, Raj Thackeray also met with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis last week, keeping everyone guessing about a tie-up with the BJP/Mahayuti.
BJP Mumbai president Ashish Shelar told the media Monday that he was unaware of what transpired at the meeting, but added, “You must correct your statement. It is Raj Thackeray who met the CM and not the other way round.”
Political analyst Abhay Deshpande told ThePrint that it looks like posturing from Raj Thackeray. “It (an alliance) looks a bit unlikely because the Sena (UBT) and the MNS share a similar vote bank in Mumbai. They are just posturing at the moment. So that if the alliance doesn’t happen, either can say it is the other who did not allow Marathi manoos to come together,” he said.
Adding, “As far as the BJP-Shinde Sena is concerned, they want one Thackeray to be with them, as Mumbai’s DNA is a bit tilted towards Thackerays. But since they can’t ally with Uddhav, they are bargaining with Raj. And at the moment, it looks like this alliance will happen, if at all, a tie-up has to happen.”
Meanwhile, on Sunday, Uddhav Thackeray met his party workers and functionaries separately to decide the further course for the BMC polls. According to party sources, Uddhav has now asked his workers to carry out a door-to-door campaign to remind people what the Shiv Sena stands for and what they have done for Mumbai.
He has also asked party workers to prepare a strategy to take up the Marathi manoos (people) issue and not let Mumbai be run by a few businessmen, referring to the Dharavi redevelopment project being given to industrialist Gautam Adani.
“Uddhav ji said that his grandfather, Prabodhankar Thackeray, led the Samyukta Maharashtra fight in the 1950s and fought for Mumbai, and he will do it too. He will not join hands with the BJP but instead asked us to remind people of how the BJP and Shinde-led party are looting the treasury of the BMC,” a party functionary told ThePrint.
(Edited by Sugita Katyal)
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