Now let ‘people’s court’ do justice

Uddhav Thackeray and his followers getting infuriated over Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar’s conclusive decision that Shiv Sena belongs to Eknath Shinde was obvious and expected. They also went before the media and stated that they would go to ‘people’s court’ to seek final justice. Ever since he stepped down from power, he kept repeatedly saying that this government under Eknath Shinde would collapse, but nothing happened. Even the Supreme Court rejected their plea to disqualify 40 MLAs. Had Uddhav Thackeray resorted to going to the people’s court much earlier, he would have shown his willingness and his intent to face the situation. But if he is doing it now, better late than never, is all that I can say.

At this juncture, I am compelled to compare his behaviour with that of his patriarch, revered Balasaheb Thackeray. It may be recalled that in 1988, it was just one vote too little but enough to make Shiv Sena’s candidate lose the mayor ship of Thane. Balasaheb was deeply saddened with the traitors from within his organization. He made an abortive attempt and obtained resignations from all the councillors. This was the time when Shiv Sena had created its position in politics and was an inviolable outfit. People did not dare speak derogatory about the party or Balasaheb.

Balasaheb brought his councillors together, boosted their morale and announced that the party will enter the Thane Municipal Corporation only after bagging a thumping majority. Power was never his sole agenda. While asking his councillors to resign, he had showed his sprit to bounce back to power and likewise, a couple of years later, Shiv Sena got a clear majority. Unfortunately, Uddhav Thackeray never showed this courage and spirit to face situations.

In fact, he was fortunate enough to have inherited an organization like Shiv Sena because he was never active in politics until the Sena came to power in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1995. Till then, he had kept himself away from the party and its affairs and was busy pursuing his photography hobby. He was surely aware about his father’s efforts to grow this organization.

His maternal-paternal cousin Raj Thackeray was always involved with party’s affairs and he worked closely with Balasaheb to build the party organization from the Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena. People began perceiving Raj as Balasaheb’s political heir. But the moment Shiv Sena came to power in 1995, Uddhav got interested and he also cunningly got his father to declare him as his political heir. Uddhav Thackeray became the head of a political outfit like the Shiv Sena without having to face any hardships, struggle or even without stepping on the ground.

After taking charge as Shiv Sena chief, he never worked to expand the party organization. In fact, when the party’s reigns went to him, senior leaders like Narayan Rane and Raj Thackeray bid ‘Jai Maharashtra’ to Shiv Sena. He also made sure that he does not have to face any challenge from within the party. Now, he surely wasn’t naïve to not know that venerable Balasaheb’s merit will not continue to help him in politics forever. Still, he failed to put in efforts to grow the party organization.

It may be recalled that after the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance came to power in the state in 1995, senior leaders of the BJP had asked Balasaheb to take over the chief ministerial position, but Balasaheb refused. Instead, he made leaders like Manohar Joshi and Narayan Rane the chief ministers. Balasaheb was determined that his Shiv Sainik will only become the chief minister of the state. He never feared challenge from any of his Shiv Sainiks becoming the chief minister that they will take over the party’s reigns from him. In fact, he was prepared to take challenges head on.

Uddhav Thackeray took complete charge in 2002 and since then Shiv Sena’s downfall began. In 2004 Assembly elections, Shiv Sena got 20 per cent votes and won 62 out of 170 seats whereas the BJP won 54 out of 117 seats. Also, during the 2009 elections, Shiv Sena got 16.3 per cent votes and bagged 44 seats whereas BJP got 14 per cent votes and won 46 seats. Despite contesting on 50 more seats than the BJP, Shiv Sena under Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership, had got fewer seats than the BJP.

For an organization to remain vibrant and to grow, its leaders have to make sure that they keep the workers and activists busy with various initiatives and subjects to carry out movements and agitations for the people. But Uddhav Thackeray never paid heed to growing the party, at least that is how it came forth from his behaviour. He and his advisors continued to run the organization without realising that it is important to reach out to people and create their space in politics. And today, he feels the need to go to people’s court with Congress-NCP’s help. If he strongly believes that his matter will be heard in people’s court, so be it.

 

(Article Pre-Published in Times of India -22 January 2024)

Keshav Upadhye, Chief Spokesperson