MUMBAI: Uddhav Thackeray may soon begin to re-arrange the Shiv Sena's priorities in the post-Balasaheb era in an attempt to get a firm grip over the party, say political observers.
For a start, the soft-spoken, low-profile Sena CEO may replace the cult of violence—the party's trademark in the 1970s—with a robust organizational network, sources in the Sena point out.
Indications to this effect came last Saturday following Balasaheb Thackeray's death at his Bandra residence. Immediately after Dr Jaleel Parkar made the announcement to mediapersons outside Matoshree, senior party leaders Divakar Raote, Ramdas Kadam and Arvind Sawant made a fervent appeal to Shiv Sainiks to stay calm. Messages were promptly sent to vibhag-pramukhs across the state to maintain peace and prepare for a grand funeral for the Sena chief.
"This was in sharp contrast to the mob frenzy that broke out in Thane soon after Anand Dighe's death was announced by a private hospital in 2001," recalled a Sena functionary on Monday. "There was not a single un toward incident in Mumbai on Sunday."
The second-generation Sena functionaries are of the view that Uddhav's son, Yuva Sena chief Aditya Thackeray, can help the party cultivate an inclusive character in keeping with Mumbai's pluralistic culture. "Barring the Rohinton Mistry incident, Aditya hasn't preached violence to his followers," said a Yuva Sena activist.
Uddhav's yet another priority will be to re-affirm the Sena's ties with rural Maharashtra. "We need to look beyond Mumbai if we want to take on the ruling Congress-NCP combine in the 2014 assembly elections," a former Sena minister said.
Not that rural Maharashtra hasn't been on Uddhav's agenda. In recent years, he has undertaken a series of campaigns on agrarian issues, including waiver of electricity tariff in drought-affected regions and adequate support price for farmers. He has also extensively toured Marathwada and Vidarbha to espouse the cause of farmers. Also, the Swabhiman Shetkari Sanghatana's recent stirs in western Maharashtra on sugar-growers' demands have engaged the Sena's attention.
Yet, many in the Sena think that Uddhav's periodic forays into the hinterland haven't helped the Sena shed its Mumbai-centric profile. In support of their contention, they are quick to point out that his inner circle involves "pucca Mumbaikars" such as Anil Parab, Anil Desai, Vinayak Raut, Deepak Sawant, Vinod Ghosalkar and Ravindra Waikar.
"They decide the party's course of action. This irks MLAs from rural Maharashtra," the former Sena minister pointed out.
Also, Uddhav may have to be ready for some sabre-rattling with the BJP, the Sena's poll ally. "With Balasaheb no longer around, the BJP may try to arm-twist the Sena," he added.
Uddhav Thackeray may change Shiv Sena’s priorities, say observers
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Uddhav Thackeray may change Shiv Sena’s priorities, say observers
