Uddhav Thackeray’s politics have reached a very dangerous point in the last five years. The way forward leads to the BMC elections, and the final test will also take place in the same election scenario. The only relief is that the path for Uddhav Thackeray is not completely closed.
But the style of politics with which Uddhav Thackeray is trying to advance has become the reason for his downfall. It has reached a turning point in Maharashtra politics that is considered dangerous everywhere. The good thing is that there is still a chance to survive and recover, but everything is very difficult.
A very popular word in Hindutva politics is homecoming. Uddhav Thackeray has not left home, but his new political path is almost like leaving home. Uddhav Thackeray left the BJP and joined hands with the Congress and Sharad Pawar to form the government in Maharashtra. And since then, the BJP has launched a strong attack on Uddhav Thackeray’s Hindutva politics. Raj Thackeray, who had been bitter for years, also came out with the BJP, and one day a Shiv Sainik named Eknath Shinde blew the bugle of rebellion and everything was destroyed in one fell swoop.
Sitting with his hands folded, Uddhav Thackeray was left heartbroken. Uddhav Thackeray may have gotten some relief due to the rebellion against Sharad Pawar. The Lok Sabha election results might have eased the pain, but the real battle would be fought in the assembly constituency, and in that battle, the people declared the ruling Mahayuti coalition led by Eknath Shinde the winner.
The fight between Aar and Paar is over. Now Uddhav Thackeray only has the fight of life and death left. The question is whether Uddhav Thackeray would like to try again the remedy that has worked so far.
Would Uddhav Thackeray want to return to hardline Hindutva politics? And even if Uddhav Thackeray wanted this, is there any room for manoeuvre?
U-turn may prove beneficial for Uddhav Thackeray
Basic nature is very important for every person. Uddhav Thackeray’s basic nature was not able to digest the strong Hindutva political agenda of Shiv Sena. Therefore, as soon as Uddhav Thackeray came to power, he started trying to create a liberal image of the Shiv Sena. I also kept going with him for some distance.
Not being a supporter of hardline Hindutva politics might have encouraged Uddhav Thackeray to join the Congress and Sharad Pawar in the future. In such a situation, the Chief Minister’s post seems to be just an excuse to get rid of the BJP’s political agenda. Uddhav Thackeray had broken the alliance with the BJP because the latter did not accept the post of Chief Minister for two and a half years.
There is definitely a disadvantage to abandoning the original political line. Lal Krishna Advani is the greatest example. Irom Sharmila Chanu, once known as the Iron Lady of Manipur, is also an example. Advani went to Pakistan and suddenly started calling Jinnah secular, and when Irom Sharmila did a 180 degree turn on the movement, people got angry; the same happened with Uddhav Thackeray.
In such a situation, if Uddhav Thackeray wants to decide to take a 180 degree turn, he can definitely try it. We will have to go out among the public again. An apology may be necessary, and Uddhav Thackeray has done so, then people may turn their backs on Eknath Shinde. Shiv Sainiks should also support Uddhav Thackeray again.
All this is not easy, but it is not impossible either. Like Uddhav Thackeray, he went ahead and formed the government in Maharashtra and also led it. In the same way, one can return and go again to his loved ones; the only condition is that people forgive Uddhav Thackeray, who forgot him in the morning, when he returns in the evening.
For Uddhav Thackeray, disaster is like an opportunity.
Uddhav Thackeray certainly has a chance to experience something new. But everything must be done in a thoughtful and planned way. There is time for missions, but not much. Whatever needs to be done can only be done until the BMC elections.
Uddhav Thackeray need not find himself in any dilemma on how to leave the people who supported him in difficult times. It is true that Uddhav Thackeray had challenged the BJP leadership with the help of Congress and Sharad Pawar, but we will also not forget what the Mahavikas Aghadi leaders did to Uddhav Thackeray before the last assembly elections.
Be it Congress leader Rahul Gandhi or Sharad Pawar, neither of them made Uddhav Thackeray the chief ministerial face, and after Mahavikas Aghadi’s defeat, it also became clear who is in trouble. If we look at the results of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, Sharad Pawar won 10 seats and Congress won 16 seats, while Uddhav Thackeray won the maximum 20 seats in the assembly.
In such a situation, if Uddhav Thackeray makes a new effort and goes among the people of Maharashtra and talks to them and tells them that he is with them as before, it can definitely have some impact.
There was a period in Maharashtra politics when the Shiv Sena was famous for its dominance. Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray never contested elections, but when the Shiv Sena-BJP coalition government was formed in 1995, there was talk that Bal Thackeray was in remote control of power. Something similar continued to happen even when Uddhav Thackeray became Chief Minister, whose remote control was believed to be in the hands of Sharad Pawar.
Maybe you remember it. When Raj Thackeray was carrying out a campaign against loudspeakers installed in mosques, Shiv Sainiks were said to be angry with Uddhav Thackeray. While talking to media, Shiv Sainiks said that what Raj Thackeray is doing is Bal Thackeray’s line, but Uddhav Thackeray has crossed the ideology and has reached a place where he cannot see anything.
Just think that if the Shiv Sainiks are willing to support Raj Thackeray on the issue of hardline Hindutva politics, they cannot do the same when Uddhav Thackeray returns, and the BMC election depends only on the Shiv Sainiks’ stand. If he stays with Eknath Shinde, he will be successful, if he stays with Uddhav Thackeray, he can also make a dent.
There is only one difficulty: it is not in everyone’s power to find an opportunity in a political disaster, but it is Uddhav Thackeray who must take the decision.
