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Well played, Raj!
By Najam Gilani
Feb. 9, 2008 |
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He is a
child in politics! So said the honorable Union
Railway Minister about the man of the moment who
is drawing immense media attention and criticism
about his recent fiery outburst fired against
the north Indians living in Bombay.
I do not doubt the political astuteness of Mr
Yadav, but on this statement of his, I beg to
differ. He (Raj Thackeray) may be a child as far
as his political experience and political age is
concerned but as far as his understanding of
Maharashtrian politics is concerned, I think he
is showing up a sign of political maturity.
For now, I’m sure he is enjoying all the
attention which news channel are bestowing upon
him in the form of harsh criticism because in
politics bad publicity is better then no
publicity and Raj Thackeray is desperately
seeking it to consolidate his position in
Maharashtrian politics.
The extremely ambitious Raj Thackeray till two
years ago used to live in illusion that after
Bal Thackeray it will be he who will be
coroneted to the tiger skin throne of Shiv Sena,
but to his shock and surprise he realized that
emotion doesn’t play role in public affairs
(read exploitation) but when it comes to family
affairs, it does. To his great dissatisfaction
the old monk of Marathee Manoos politics decided
to coronate his son as his rightful successor
and this for him sowed the seed of rebellion.
The rebel formed his own political party
(Maharashtra Navnirman Sena) and since then
onwards he is continuously struggling to make a
mark for himself. In the last Bombay Municipal
election he tried his best to challenge the
might of big daddy but the results for him was
disappointing enough. It was disappointing not
only because his party (MNS) won just few seats,
it was doubly disturbing because Shiv Sena won
the Municipal election under the leadership of
Uddhav Thackeray - his bete noire. This
realization for him was deeply disturbing and
extremely frustrating.
Uddhav Thackeray is applying the expansionist
policy to increase the vote bank of Shiv Sena.
It no more talks that passionately about the
cause of Marathee Manoos alone. Realising the
strength of Dalits (which they fear will vote
for Republican party or Bahujan Samaj party) and
North Indians, he is trying his best to reach
out to them in every possible way. This he feels
is important if Shiv Sena wants to remain in
power.
On this strategy of Shiv Sena, Raj Thackeray
sensed and opportunity for which he needed one
strategy. He thought of attracting all those
people who are supporters of Shiv Sena (politics
of Marathee Manoos) he is trying to convey the
message that now he is the sole protector of
Marathee identity, of Marathee pride, of
Marathee social security which stands threatened
because of heavy influx of migrants from Bihar
and Uttar Pradesh and of which Shiv Sena is no
more taking care of.
Therefore, in the larger interest of lure of
power he thought of playing with the looming
insecurity of Marathee janta. The compulsion of
power politics is that it pushes you to the deep
end of the corner to exploit an issue which can
help you grab power and that’s precisely what he
is doing. Shiv Sena, though not petrified but
its scared of losing its vote bank because deep
within it knows that (lower) middle class
Marathee worker feels threatened by the migrant
North Indian workers and slowly, steadily it may
switch over its loyalty towards Raj Thackeray
party.
It is Raj Thackeray who resembles the aggression
and militant style of Bal Thackerey which has
been a great source of attraction and
inspiration for the supporters of Shiv Sena. In
the absence of that (in Shiv Sena) they will
prefer to switch over to the party which display
it best.
This mere thought will give immense kick to MNS
and sleepless nights to Shiv Sena.
Politics is the art of possibility and the
possibility is, that, with this form of politics
of polarization MNS in the coming assembly
election may end up getting some seats…
So what if in the process a community gets
isolated.
So what if in this struggle for power few
innocent workers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh
get badly beaten up.
So what if in this realization of ambition a
vibrant cosmopolitan city comes to a standstill.
Raj is playing well, but for himself. Well
played, Raj!
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