Omkar Dattatray
Really a good news for NDA/BJP as the Hindutva strong proponent of Shiv Sena[UBT] Uddhav Thackeray is all set to return back to NDA fold as the hints for the home coming are given by the newly anointed chief minister Devendra Fadnavis of the industrial capital of the country- Maharashtra .At last Uddhav will be returning to NDA fold and there is no doubt about this home coming happening within few days as revealed by no less a leader than the new chief minister Fadvavis who is a strong face of the saffron party .In fact Devendra Fadnavis drops big hint on ex-ally’s ghar wapsi .The alliance between BJP and Shiv Sena fell out after Uddhav Thackarey decided to walk out of the NDA in 2019 and formed government in partnership with the Congress and NCP .Now it is after a long gap of more than five years that Shiv Sena[UBT] leader will be returning to his original place which is the real home of the natural and ideological alliance of the BJP and Shiv Sena.It is now a matter of few days and Uddhav Thackeray will be back to NDA.Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said former ally Uddhav Thackeray ‘s Shiv Sena inherently had a ”Saffron DNA’ ‘and there was bound to be some level of discomfort among leaders of his party over the ”green clock ”that he had taken over his head .During an interaction with CNN-News 18 a day after taking oath as the 18th CM ,Fadnavis was asked whether he believed it was possible that Uddhav and his faction of the Shiv Sena could realign with the NDA. Fadnavis said while Mahayuti enjoyed absolute majority in the assembly ,rendering the Sena[UBT]s presence meaningless ,Uddhav and his party were inherently driven by the Hindutva ideology at its core. ”Mahayuti has a clear majority in the state .But Uddhav Thackeray is driven by the Hindutva ideology but has covered himself with a green clock .It is natural for leaders of his faction of the Sena to be uncomfortable with it,”Fadnavis said .Notably ,the BJP and Shiv Sena had been long-term allies until Uddhav decided to walk out of the alliance after the Assembly polls in 2019 over his demand to be made chief minister after the NDA won a majority in the state .The Shiv Sena [then undivided] formed a government in alliance with the Congress and NCP also then [undivided] with Uddhav as the chief minister .Less than half way into his term ,Uddhav had to step down ahead of a court -ordered floor test after Eaknath Shinde led a rebellion against the then CM and joined hands with the BJP along with majority of the Shiv Sena’s MLA’s .The BJP and Shinde Sena formed a government and Shinde was appointed as the Chief Minister while Fadnavis took the oath as his deputy .Ajit Pawar did a ‘Shinde’ on his uncle Sharad Pawar and spilt the NCP to join NDA less than a year later and eventually became the deputy CM as well .Asked who between the Shiv Sena and NCP he saw as a natural alliance partner for the BJP ,Fadnavis said ,”The alliance with Shiv Sena is natural .With NCP ,it is a political alliance .”Ghar Wapsi is on cards? Uddhav Thackeray is in touch with Shinde camp MP’s after polls .The next challenge for Shinde was the state assembly elections later this year .These elections will decide which Shiv Sena faction is the real one Shinde’s or Thackeray’s .After the recent Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra ,there were reports that some MP’s from Eknath Shinde’s Shiv sena Party were in touch with Uddhav Thackeray .They may want to leave Shinde’s party and join Thackeray’s party again .According to news channel ABP News ,several MP’s from Shinde’s Shiv Sena are talking to Uddhav Thackeray .They may be planning to switch sides and go back to Thackeray’s party called Shiv Sena UBT .Political experts say these MP’s are considering rejoining Thackeray because Shinde’s party did not do well in the Lok Sabha elections .However, it is not clear exactly how many MP’s are in contact with Thackeray .Congress leader Supriya Shrinate shared a video clip about these reports on social media .She said, ”According to sources Many MP’s of Shiv Sena Shinde are in contact with Uddhav Thackarey .”These reports have led to the speculation that there could be a big shift in Maharashtra politics if MP’s leave Shinde’s party to join Thackeray’s party again .In the recent elections, Shinde’s Shiv Sena won 7 out of the 15 Lok Sabha seats it contested in Maharashtra .But it lost two seats in Mumbai to Thackeray’s rival party Shiv Sena UBT. The most pertinent question is will Uddhav Thackeray bounce back to NDA ?Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray has been suffering from one setback after another .The first was when Eknath Shinde raised the banner of revolt against Thackeray along with over 30 MLA’s and pulled down the MVA government helmed by him .In a way ,Thackeray had violated a solemn assurance given by his late father and Sena pramukh Bal Thackeray .Uddhav Thackeray’s bold decision to challenge the BJP in 2019 and form an alliance with the Congress and NCP has resulted in a significant electoral setback in the Maharashtra assembly elections ,where his Shiv Sena UBT secured only 20 out of 95 contested seats .He expressed surprise at the electorate’s dramatic shift in preference ,considering their rejection of the BJP -led alliance merely five months ago in LokSabha elections .The political journey ofBal Thackeray’s reserved son has been notable .He successfully overcame challenges from Narayan Rane and his cousin Raj Thackeray ,eventually becoming Maharashtra’s chief minister in November 2019 after dissolving the long -standing BJP alliance post assembly elections .During the covid -19 crisis ,Uddhav established a strong connection with the public through social media platforms like Facebook ,presenting himself as a reassuring leader .Despite receiving acclaim for his pandemic management ,he failed to recognize growing dissatisfaction within his party regarding the alliance with the former ideological opponents. Eknath Shinde’ rebellion in June 2022 resulted in his governments collapse and party split .Nevertheless ,Uddhav maintained his criticism of the BJP ,Prime Minister Narendra Modi ,and those he termed ‘traitors’ who aligned with Shinde .His party ‘s performance in the Lok Sabha elections was modest ,winning nine out of 21 contested seats .Critics have pointed out his limited accessibility ,with even ally Sharad Pawar commenting on his tendency to work from home during his chief ministership. .However Uddhav gained support from previously distant communities ,including Muslims and Dalits ,and developed his own distinctive speaking style ,different from his father’s but equally sharp .Following the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance’s decisive victory ,CM Eknath Sinde declared it settled the question of Shiv Sena’s legitimate leadership .The 64 year old Uddhav and his son Aaditya now face the task of maintaining their support base and challenging Shinde’s claim to Bal Thackeray’s legacy while defending their alliance with the secular Congress and NCP .Any way ,Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray is set to switch to ruling BJP-led NDA any time in near future and the indications about home coming of Uddhav has been given by the newly anointed chief minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis and his words are not without meaning and political sense.
(The author is a columnist, social and KP activist)
