Raj Thackeray has now come out more openly against Uddhav Thackeray. Workers of Raj Thackeray’s party Maharashtra Navnirman Sena have again started creating ruckus on the streets – and the thing to note is that MNS workers are also getting open support from Raj Thackeray.
By terming the attack on Uddhav Thackeray’s convoy in Thane as a reaction to the Beed incident, Raj Thackeray has given such a hint. Some people had thrown betel nut on Raj Thackeray’s convoy in Beed, for which Shiv Sena (UBT) workers have been accused.
In a social media post addressed to his supporters, Raj Thackeray has openly declared that if anyone points a finger at him, his MNS workers will give him a double dose – and all this while he is contesting elections alone on 200-235 assembly seats in Maharashtra. Have announced to fight. This also seems a bit strange because in the Lok Sabha elections held a few days ago, Raj Thackeray had given unconditional support to the ruling coalition Mahayuti in Maharashtra.
And not only Uddhav Thackeray, Raj Thackeray is also targeting Sharad Pawar along with him. Raj Thackeray’s direct allegation is that Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar together are trying to use the Maratha movement to incite riots in the Marathwada region. In a press conference in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Raj Thackeray claimed that the reservation movement led by Manoj Jarang is being used by Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar as a shield for caste politics.
Raj Thackeray’s warning to Uddhav Thackeray
Even when Uddhav Thackeray was the Chief Minister in the Mahavikas Aghadi government, Raj Thackeray was seen to be very active. From campaigning against loudspeakers installed on mosques in Mumbai to visiting Ayodhya, Raj Thackeray kept challenging Uddhav Thackeray’s Hindutva agenda in various ways. Raj Thackeray’s language and political style seemed to match the BJP’s line, but later he calmed down and even postponed the Ayodhya tour. Perhaps the validity of the support received from BJP had ended, because by then BJP had found an alternative to Raj Thackeray.
On August 9, when Raj Thackeray’s convoy was moving towards a hotel in Beed city, Shiv Sena (UBT) workers protested by throwing betel nuts and tomatoes. Along with this, supporters of Uddhav Sena were also raising slogans, ‘Betel nut traders should go away’. Earlier too, these workers have been accusing Raj Thackeray of taking contract to destroy Uddhav Thackeray led Shiv Sena.
And the very next day, when Uddhav Thackeray’s convoy was passing through Thane, Raj Thackeray’s party MNS workers threw bangles, tomatoes and coconuts. A case has been registered against 44 workers including the District President of MNS for this attack. Similarly, 4 Shiv Sena (UBT) workers have been arrested for the Beed incident.
Raj Thackeray has described the attack on Uddhav Thackeray’s convoy as a reaction to the Beed incident. In a post addressed to MNS workers on social site .
On behalf of Raj Thackeray, it has been said, the efforts to create obstacles during my Navnirman Yatra started from Dharashiv… Marathas were protesting in the name of reservation movement in Dharashiv, but later it was found that they had nothing to do with this movement. There was nothing to do… They were associated with Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray’s group, and all these things were exposed through social media… My Maharashtra soldiers did what should be done.
Going forward, Raj Thackeray has warned in clear words that if Uddhav Thackeray led Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawar led NCP (SCP) try to create obstacles during his Navnirman Yatra, then they themselves will attack in Maharashtra. Will not be able to hold even a single rally.
How relevant is Raj in Maharashtra after Shinde’s rise?
If seen, Raj Thackeray’s frustration is reaching its peak. This is also natural. Now even the existence of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena is in danger. Raj Thackeray has seen opposition to BJP and also living with it. Nothing has been found so far – and there is barely one MLA in the Maharashtra Assembly.
Earlier, Raj Thackeray had a special importance in the parallel politics of competition with Uddhav Thackeray – because Raj Thackeray was considered a leader with the political temperament of Shiv Sena founder Bala Saheb Thackeray.
And this was not just air talk. Raj Thackeray had also achieved a special status in the politics of Maharashtra. Raj Thackeray was considered a real talent and Uddhav Thackeray was considered a leader who came into politics due to his father’s legacy.
A big difference was seen between the two brothers. To establish his politics, Raj Thackeray left MNS workers to indulge in street hooliganism like the old Shiv Sainiks, while Uddhav Thackeray tried to take the party beyond its old image. As long as there was an alliance with BJP, everything was going well – the trouble started when it broke away from BJP and joined hands with NCP and Congress to form the government in Maharashtra.
Even when Uddhav Thackeray was the Chief Minister, Raj Thackeray adopted almost the same method of protest as he had been doing from the beginning. He also got the benefit of being an opponent of Uddhav Thackeray for a few days.
Even when we were running a campaign to remove loudspeakers from mosques in Maharashtra, people used to see the image of Bal Thackeray in Raj Thackeray. Despite Uddhav Thackeray being a Shiv Sena leader and Chief Minister, there was more sympathy for Raj Thackeray and more trust in his Hindutva agenda among Shiv Sainiks. At that time, despite standing in favor of Uddhav Thackeray, Shiv Sainiks were seen supporting Raj Thackeray in their mind – but now those things have ended.
Maharashtra has got such a leader in the form of Eknath Shinde, whose image Shiv Sainiks used to see in Raj Thackeray. Eknath Shinde claims himself to be the real heir of Balasaheb Thackeray, and BJP also propagates the same – it is a different matter that in the Lok Sabha elections, people have given preference to Uddhav Thackeray’s candidates over Eknath Shinde.
Now it seems that before challenging Uddhav Thackeray, Raj Thackeray has started getting challenged by Eknath Shinde – and when Eknath Shinde has become a contender for Bal Thackeray’s legacy, then where does Raj Thackeray remain relevant? ?
BJP has also used Raj Thackeray, and when he was not able to do any significant damage to Uddhav Thackeray, BJP started looking for a new character – and that work was also completed as soon as Eknath Shinde was found.
Now Uddhav Thackeray will be happy that Raj Thackeray and Eknath Shinde should first decide among themselves which line of politics they will follow – because the people of Maharashtra have already expressed their opinion in the Lok Sabha elections.