Shiv Sena differs with BJP for self-interest, not ideology

Tired of playing a second fiddle to the BJP, the Shiv Sena seems to have veered around the opinion that it is time to dump the big brother and chalk its own course in the murky Maharashtra politics.

The long stand-off over government formation with Devender Fadnavis at the helm is not to the liking of Shiv Sena. At least that is the picture being presented by it. Or is it that it wants Aaditya Thackeray to become the Chief Minister at his debut itself because he is the first in the family to jump into the electoral politics and has become a member of the State Legislature?

No one questions the rise of Thackeray as he earned his position through a stint of hard work. He is young and has a modern outlook - at least in as much as he talked about - plastic ban, anti-tree felling agitation and seamless night life for youngsters etc. This is urban talk and this educated tech savvy modern youngster is still rooted in the hardcore Hindutva and Maratha politics.

This factor should worry the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party of Sharad Pawar. Shiv Sena remained a kingmaker for long as its founder Balasaheb Thackeray sought. So too Uddhav Thackeray preferred. But the latter has become more restless now to see his son on the throne.

It has always been a troubled alliance for the BJP-Shiv Sena with the Sena taking pot shots at the BJP leadership almost every other day. Sena might form the government with the help of NCP and the Congress now. How does it go down as far as the voters are concerned is anybody's guess.

The mandate given by the Maharashtrians is clear and it is for the BJP-Shiv Sena 'Mayayuti' to form the government. If Shiv Sena thinks otherwise and acts unilaterally, it should be prepared to break away from the NDA alliance and either chalk out its own course or join the UPA alliance.

Now that is a tectonic shift and is not easy. Shiv Sainiks like Aaditya and there is no doubt about it. But whether they like to distance themselves from the BJP and its ideology from which it had drawn its moorings and strength is not known. What would Shiv Sena's appeal be to the voters minus BJP?

This dilemma should be common to both Shiv Sena and the NCP-Congress combine. How will the latter justify their stand? Is Sena any better than the BJP? It's criticism of the BJP is limited to Modi-Shah duo. It lashes out at the BJP only to secure its interests and not out of any hatred for the BJP's ideology.

In fact, when it comes to the crux, Shiv Sena is far worse. It is not just a much harder Hindutva force, but also a lumpenised army of blackmailers. It is a much greater divisive force than the BJP with its Maratha stance.

The nation has seen how it has attacked non-Marathas and all those outsiders several times for stabilising its own vote bank. But, the lure of power is such that it makes politicians descend to any lows, alas!