When Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut threw an open challenge at Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut to stop her if he can, as she is landing at the Mumbai airport on 9 September, the whole saga cracked Shiv Sens wide open how it has degenerated from Shiv Sena of Bala Saheb Thackeray to Shiv Sena of Udhav Thackeray.
Not so long ago, in 1995, late Sunil Dutt—who was extremely stressed and disturbed about his son Sanjay Dutt being charged with the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) due to his connection with the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case—visited Shiv Sena Supremo Bala Saheb Thackeray at Matoshree seeking help for his son Sanjay Dutt. What is to be highlighted is that Sunil Dutt, despite being a popular minister of Congress, used all his contacts in New Delhi, but no one could save his son. But, Bala Saheb Thackeray agreed to help Sunil Dutt to save Sanjay Dutt, of course with a condition in closed door meeting, which desperate Sunil Dutt must have agreed. Such was the power of Bala Saheb Thackrey, who extended his helping to Sunil Duty, when his stardom and his political connections were of no use for him.
Why is Shiv Sena’s glory waning?
A political party is known by its ideology. Bala Saheb Thackeray’s ideologies were based on Hindutva and its pride. He was a man of his word. He would never have switched sides after an election. Bala Saheb hated Congress to the extent that he called Congressmen as “Hijdas” saluting Italian Mata (Sonia Gandhi). But, Udhav Thackrey didn’t even hesitate to ditch his father’s legacy and his ideology when he joined hands with Congress and NCP for power saluting the same Italian Mata.
Voters of Maharashtra felt betrayed.
Voters in Maharashtra voted for BJP+Shiv Sena alliance and not to Shiv Sena in isolation. Udhav Thackrey wants to enjoy the power because of his dynasty what Rahul Gandhi demanded because of being Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi could not defeat larger than life image of Narendra Modi. But, Udhav Thackrey managed to walk through the corridors of power after compromising its core ideology by putting its pro-Hindutva agenda on the backburner. Udhav Thackrey government watched brutal mob lynching of hapless Sadhus and their driver in Palghar as mute spectator.
Udhav Thackrey reminds ex PM Manmohan Singh.
Ex PM Manmohan Singh looked helpless when he miserably failed to rein in corruption and scams behind compulsions of coalition politics, but he was too weak a PM to do anything about it. Maharashtra Chief Minister Udhav Thackrey appears to be equally clueless, when it came to deal with vital issues like Corona.
- Maharashtra is by far the worst affected state in the country with highest fatality rate of Covid-19. The state accounts for 24% of total cases and 41% of total deaths in the country due to the disease.
- Mumbai Police botched up Sushant Singh Rajput’s Death Case due to which Supreme Court had to order CBI to investigate it.
- Udhav government displayed no political will to punish perpetrators, who brutally mob lynched frail Sadhus in Palghar on night of 16 April.
- Mumbai Police issued a notice to Karishma Bhosale and her mother for requesting the mosque in neighbourhood to lower the volume of loudspeaker that blared azaan.
Yes man like Sanjay Raut is ruining Shiv Sena.
Sycophants or yes men are term which is used in derogatory manner for they hardly allow their leaders to grow. Every political party is surrounded by yes men. It is up to leaders if they entertain yes men. Rahul Gandhi has likes of Randeep Surjewala and Manish Tiwari. Udhav Thackrey has likes of Sanjay Raut, who doesn’t shy away from committing blunder after blunder ruining the image of Shiv Sena. Instead of, dealing Sushant Singh Death Case with prudence since Supreme Court had to interfere to order CBI to investigate it, Sanjay Raut wrestled with Kangana Ranaut like an over enthusiastic teenager.
Aditya Thackrey is parachuted politician.
Aditya Thackrey with hardly political acumen was inducted in Maharashtra cabinet after sidelining party veterans is nothing but epitome of dynasty politics. Who can forget Aaj Tak anchor Anjana Om Kashyap creating a storm when she had compared Yuva Shiv Sena chief Aditya Thackeray to former Congress president Rahul Gandhi. Ye Shiv Sena ka Rahul Gandhi saabit hoga, likhke rakh lijiye.(He’s going to be the Rahul Gandhi of Shiv Sena, take it in writing),” Kashyap could be heard saying in the background during an event. It is altogether different matter that Kashyap regretted the remark later, saying it was a lapse of judgement.
There are many Shiv Sena supporters—who were attached with Shiv Sena for their ideology—got detached and disillusioned with Shiv Sena after it compromised on its ideology and joined hands with Congress and NCP. Leftovers with Shiv Sena are those who have nothing to do with ideology. Would Udhav Thakrey ever realise shunning the legacy and ideology of Bala Saheb cost Shiv Sena dearer than the power he is enjoying at present?
Shiv Sena and Udhav Tahkre and cohorts are showing how LOW they can stoop. Bala Shaib Thakre must be turning in his grave seeing his legacy totally destroyed.