Manmohan Dhar
Shiv Sena in Maharashtra is not in a state which Bala Saheb Thackeray would have wanted it to be in. When elections to the Maharashtra state assembly were held in October, 2019 it was a clear cut mandate for a natural alliance of Shiv Sena and BJP. And accordingly a Govt. was formed with Devinder Fadnavis as the Chief Minister. But, in a very dramatic twist the Fadnavis Govt. had to resign after a few days and Uddhav Thakeray with the support of Congress and NCP became the new CM of Maharashtra. As the people of Maharashtra wanted BJP and Shiv Sena to be sharing power for the next five years, it was nothing but sheer thirst for power which led to the most unnatural political alliance in Maharashtra. Shiv Sena entered into an alliance with Congress and NCP sidelining the single largest party with 106 MLAs, the BJP. This was something which must have definitely stunned the people of Maharashtra. In fact Shiv Sena had fought the elections under the auspices of BJP using the name of PM Modi. And when it came to supporting BJP for the formation of Govt. Shiv Sena played stubborn and wanted the CM’s position for Uddhav Thackeray. This illogical and unreasonable demand could not be accepted thus resulting in confrontation which prompted BJP to sit in the opposition rather than succumb to the unethical demand of Shiv Sena. Shiv Sena was a party created by the fire brand Hindutva crusader Bala Saheb Thackeray in 1966. The party originally focussed on the regional issues concerning the Marathi people in the state of Maharashtra. But, later Bal Thackeray transformed the party into a very strong political entity with broader vision and ideology of Hindutva as its essence. Bal Thackeray never looked an eye to eye with Congress on the basis of differing ideologies. In fact he was of the opinion that Shiv Sena would prefer to abandon politics than to ally with Congress at any step. He in fact went to the extent that at least during his life time it was not possible. And, later if anyone from Shiv Sena allies with congress or like-minded political party it would hurt his soul. And, if this is known to every Shiv Sanik it must be known to his own son Uddhav Thackeray and the entire Thackeray family. Then what must have been the urgency that made Uddhav Thackeray forget the very basic and fundamental principle of the party. Not only Uddhav Thackeray ally with Congress and NCP but within a period of two and a half years as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, he almost diluted the entire perception and philosophy of the party created by his worthy father Bala Saheb Thackeray. 2/3 This must have been very paining and hurtful for all those staunch Shiv Saniks who would not like to give up to the Anti Hindutva stance of Uddhav’s allies. And when it became very frustrating and suffocating for the hard core Shiv Saniks they thought of parting ways with Uddhav. Eknath Shinde along with two thirds Shiv Sena MLAs was forced to take a hard decision. He drew a line between the basic Hindutva and the compromising policy of Uddhav Thackeray. It really must have been very compelling and pains giving decision to walk away but Eknath Shinde while giving his version said his decision was only for upholding the basic ideology of Shiv Sena and for the highest esteem of the Party. The aftermath of division in the party fold has been very disturbing and astonishingly awkward and embarrassing not only for the people of Maharashtra but for the entire country. Political vandalism in the financial capital Mumbai is tarnishing the very fundamental principles of Democracy. Political stalwarts of the left over faction of Shiv Sena under the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray are spitting venom and almost all the limits of decency are being crossed and open threats are being given to the Eknath Shinde group. Ugly and un-parliamentary language is being used to demean and defame the MLAs of Shinde camp, which needs to be taken a very strong cognisance of, by the Chief Minister of Maharashtra Mr. Uddhav Thackeray. Loss to public property is not something that would solve the political crisis. A strong message should go from the state administration that violence of any kind won’t be tolerated at any cost and that all political issues need to be settled peacefully through a political dialogue and if need be by the court of law. In a democracy there should be no room for political vandalism. All issues should get settled politically and the law of land should prevail wherever necessary. Return of Shiv Sena MLAs from Guwahati to Mumbai has been to some extent hampered by the threats given by the Uddhav faction of Shiv Sena. Some top leaders of Shiv Sena Uddhav group are even giving threats of holding the returning MLAs hostage for 72 hours at the Mumbai airport itself while some of them will be straightaway taken to Shiv Sena Bhawan. This political outrage cannot be allowed at any cost. This is nothing but an ugly face of political hooliganism and if not checked at the very onset will burst like a volcano engulfing the complete political set up in the country. Political ethos manifested in the country since independence needs to be revisited by the law makers so as to emanate a standard guideline and a yard stick to define the parameters of behaviour and political limitations obligatory in a democratic set up. Now that Supreme Court has already made it amply clear that there is not going to be any disqualification of MLAs till 12th of July’2022. And that ample time need to be given to the Eknath Shinde group to reply to the notice issued to them by the Dy. Speaker of the 3/3 Maharashtra assembly. All factions and political parties need to exercise restraint and settle the issue peacefully in a democratic manner. Law should take its own course and street war in politics should be dealt with sternly.
