Is ‘Socialism’ the only respite?

 

Uddhav Thackeray recently held series of meetings with senior leaders of the socialist ideology in the state. A leading activist of the socialist movement MLC Kapil Patil was instrumental for this meeting. It was only after this meeting that Uddhav Thackeray and Sanjay Raut began narrating instances of memories of how Prabodhankar Thackeray and Shiv Sena supremo revered Balasaheb Thackeray had close relations with many senior leaders of the socialist movement and how Shiv Sena had allied with the Praja Socialist Party in 1967 for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. It isn’t surprising to see Uddhav Thackeray’s sudden affection towards the socialist ideological wing. In fact, this political move was expected from him.

In 2019, Uddhav Thackeray bagged the chief ministerial position by betraying the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and by joining hands with the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party who had been his party’s staunch opponents. I feel that it was after this alliance that his downfall began. Post 1985, Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray always took a strong Hindutva stance and brought Shiv Sena at the centrestage of state’s politics. Shiv Sena, whose existence was limited to Mumbai and Thane till 1985, began to spread across Maharashtra based on this Hindutva ideology. In fact, Balasaheb Thackeray had contested the 1987 by-election in Vile Parle Assembly constituency on this ideology only.

At that time, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Sangh Parivar had initiated a decisive movement to construct a grand Shri Ram Mandir in Ram Janmabhoomi. The slogans of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal – ‘Mandir wahin banaenge’ and ‘garv se kaho hum Hindu hain’ had filled the atmosphere. The’’ Virat Hindu sammelan’’ that was held at Alandi during the same time had caused a saffron stir. Shiv Sena’s Dr. Ramesh Prabhu had won the Vile Parle by election. Later, Dr. Prabhu’s victory was challenged in the court and the court had agreed since the election was contested on the Hindutva issue. The court had also cancelled the elections of Shiv Sena MLAs like Subhash Desai, Manohar Joshi and others for the use of Hindutva during their election campaigning. Later, it was for Hindutva issue only that the Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena allied in 1989.

Being reminded of this history in the backdrop of Uddhav Thackeray’s meeting with leaders of the socialist family was obvious. The Shiv Sena had been proudly advocating its Hindutva ideology since the 1987 by-election of Vile Parle Assembly constituency. In 2019, Uddhav Thackeray abandoned the legacy of Hindutva ideology of his patriarch revered Balasaheb Thackeray. And now there is no U-turn as Uddhav Thackeray does not seem to have the courage to go back to his father’s Hindutva ideology. He does not even have the courage to atone for his political sins of betraying the BJP and abandoning Hindutva ideology and hence he is left with no option but to seek support from socialist ideologies for sustenance.

Since 1985, Balasaheb Thackeray never took recourse to the 3 ideologies – Congress, Socialist and the Communist, thus springing him up as a ‘weather bomb’ in the state. It is inappropriate to assume that Uddhav Thackeray is unaware about Balasaheb’s bitter stance towards the socialist ideology. When senior socialist leader Nanasaheb Gore breathed his last in 1993, the editorial in Balasaheb’s daily ‘Saamna’ was titled ‘Dhongala shraddhanjali nahi’ (no obituary to an imposter). Owing to Balasaheb’s resolve not to budge from his Hindutva stance and his alliance with the BJP, he used to get criticized by journalists who believed in socialist ideology. Of course, these journalists reaped the fruits of their venomous criticism against Balasaheb and his Shiv Sena. Later, when Uddhav Thackeray betrayed BJP, this congregation rejoiced and started praising Uddhav Thackeray’s decision.

Balasaheb always remained loyal to his Hindutva stance. He was always in favour of implementation of Uniform Civil Code, the abrogation of Article 370 and construction of Ram Mandir and hence he actively supported the BJP. But unfortunately, Uddhav Thackeray seems to have forgotten and compromised his patriarch’s Hindutva. And now,there seems no comeback for him, especially after joining hands with Sharad Pawar and the Congress. Today, with more than 40 MLAs joining hands with BJP, following the vertical split in the Nationalist Congress Party and with lack of competent leadership in the Congress, Uddhav Thackeray is bound to get worried about his political existence, thus his desperate attempts.

 

A few months ago, the Communist Party of India had joined hands with Uddhav Thackeray for the by-election for the Andheri Assembly constituency. It may be recalled that Shiv Sena had to contend with many leaders of communist ideology to maintain its existence in Mumbai. Now, Uddhav Thackeray is conveniently turning a blind eye to all these aspects and trying to turn the clock backwards. Although there might have been political inevitability, but still Uddhav Thackeray should have evaluated the hold this ideology has in the state. But he seems to have lost all power to circumspect.

To state that ‘Hindutva’ was Balasaheb’s Shiv Sena’s ‘USP’ won’t be an exaggeration. But Uddhav Thackeray auctioned this USP for the chief ministerial position thus raising doubts about his political existence. Now that he is unable to get rid of this ideological maze, he is trying to take refuge under the socialist ideology which barely has any presence in this state and I wonder if it will be of any help to him, else they will be left to only derive satisfaction by their mere presence.

 

(Article Pre-Published in Times of India -23 October. 2023)

Keshav Upadhye, Chief Spokesperson