Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray’s “unconditional” support to the ‘Mahayuti’ alliance of BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP in the state and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Centre has ruffled the Opposition’s feathers as the move is expected to bolster the ruling bloc’s prospects in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Addressing his party’s annual rally on Gudi Padwa, Thackeray said he expects PM Modi to focus on the concerns of the youth and maintained the state should get a larger share of central revenue keeping in mind taxes it pays.
“I don’t have any expectations. When there is a need for a strong leadership in the country, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena will back the BJP, Shiv Sena, NCP unconditionally. It is only for Narendra Modi,” he asserted.
The MNS chief has not yet elaborated whether his party, which has not fielded any candidate so far, will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls though he made it clear that his party names, as and when they contest elections, will do so only on the MNS symbol ‘railway engine’.
WAR OF WORDS
Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis welcomed Raj Thackeray’s decision to extend unconditional support to the Mahayuti alliance.
In a post on social media platform X, he said: “I am extremely grateful to MNS chief Raj Thackeray for extending support to the Mahayuti comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP. I welcome the decision to trust Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s masterly leadership to realise the dream of a developed country (Viksit Bharat) and for a strong foundation of the Maharashtra state. We all shall become bound to the solemn vow of fulfilling people’s expectations.”
The opposition bloc, however, was unsparing in its attacks. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi took to social media to question the change in Raj Thackeray’s stance.
“Raj Thackeray ji went all the way to Delhi only to be told by the HM that 2 seats would be spared for his party in the alliance and that too to be fought on BJP symbol. Imagine the humiliation and yet his unconditional support to the BJP. It takes courage to fight majoritarian forces that work against the interest of Maharashtra, with this decision its clear MNS lacks it,” she said on X.
In another post, she said: “Will Raj Thackeray ji next be announced as BJP star campaigner for Uttar Pradesh and Bihar? Will Raj Thackeray ji be a special invitee to Gujarat for the inauguration of projects taken away from Maharashtra? With unconditional support comes unconditional compromise. For both sides.”
Uddhav Thackeray’s close aide and Sena leader Sanjay Raut too took a dig at Raj Thackeray. “… Now what kind of miracle has happened suddenly, we should ask him. You have suddenly turned around and are supporting the enemies of Maharashtra. What will you tell the public? What is the reason behind this? Which file has been opened?…”
“Businesses are driven away from Maharashtra, attempts are being made to break and cripple Mumbai. In such circumstances, if a party formed for Maharashtra pride backs enemies of Maharashtra, then a doubt arises in the minds of people. He (Raj Thackeray) has to answer the questions,” Raut said.
The Congress, meanwhile, said Raj Thackeray’s move would not affect the MVA’s prospects. Vijay Wadettiwar took a dig at the MNS chief, saying a tiger had turned into a lamb. “When Raj Thackeray visited Delhi, it was evident that he will go with the BJP. But we did not expect that a tiger will turn into a lamb so soon. Will a fighter like Raj Thackeray become a slave?” he asked. “In 2019, Raj Thackeray had taken a firm stand against PM Modi and now he has extended support to the PM. Something is fishy here,” he added.
Reacting to the attacks, BJP spokesperson Ram Kadam questioned Uddhav Thackeray’s “maha gaddari” (betrayal) with the ideology of Bal Thackeray. “Raj Thackeray extended unconditional support while Uddhav, despite being Bal Thackeray’s son, betrayed his ideals by joining hands with his enemies. Raj is following his uncle’s ideals by supporting PM Modi.”
WHY THE CHANGE IN STANCE?
Thackeray, who broke away from the undivided Shiv Sena and founded the MNS in 2006, asked his party workers to start preparing for the state assembly elections which are due in October this year.
For the 55-year-old firebrand leader known for his oratory skills, politics has come a full circle. He openly backed Modi’s candidature for the Prime Minister’s post in 2014. He then changed tracks and went on to become his bitter critic, going to the extent of playing videos of promises made by the prime minister at his well-attended rallies, and pointing out how they remained unfulfilled.
However, opposing his estranged cousin Uddhav Thackeray, then head of the undivided Shiv Sena, has been the hallmark of Raj Thackeray’s politics. Even when he backed the BJP in 2014, he fielded candidates against the undivided Shiv Sena. The MNS leader, at the Gudi Padwa rally in Shivaji Park, explained why he changed his stand on Modi.
“After 2014, I felt that what I heard in the (assurances given in) speeches (by Modi) were not materialising. I opposed him vehemently, but whenever he did anything good, say (like nullifying the provisions of) Article 370, I was the one who welcomed it. I organised a ‘morcha’ (rally) in favour of the NRC (National Register of Citizens),” Raj Thackeray said. The MNS leader asserted he never made personal attacks against PM Modi even as he took a dig at his cousin and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut.
“I do not criticise because I was not offered the chief minister’s post, but I did not agree with their stand. They (Uddhav and Raut) are speaking against him (Modi) now. When I was saying this (during 2019 polls), then why didn’t you resign because (now) you were dislodged from power and your party was broken?” he asked.
The Shiv Sena suffered a split in June 2022 when a majority of its MLAs, led by now chief minister Eknath Shinde, revolted against Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership. Uddhav Thackeray had quit as chief minister following the revolt.