Raj a better leader than Uddhav, says Sharad Pawar

In his exclusive interview with Surendra Gangan, Union Agriculture Minister and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar opines that Raj Thackeray has more mass appeal and the capacity to deliver than cousin Udhav. Refusing to buy the claim that the Shiv Sena will be cut to size post-BMC elections, Pawar says the party will survive, and with the option of an alternative leadership available, it can swing back anytime. Excerpt from the interview:

You claimed Uddhav’s leadership has limitations. Is Raj a better leader?
The general perception among people is that Raj will deliver more impressively than his cousin brother. After all, they compare both with Bal Thackeray and are quick to realise that Raj is closer to senior Thackeray in many ways, like his style of thinking and working. But at the same time, it would be too early to say, as Raj failed the party in fulfilling his responsibilities as in-charge of Nashik city during his stint in the Sena.

As for Udhav, I think he doesn’t have the base or the capacity to deliver. Though he tries to imitate his father, but the grace and the fan following of senior Thackeray is not easy to emulate. Every time Udhav tries to cover up his limitations, he gets more exposed. In 2009, he dreamed of grabbing power in the state assembly. However, the vision was missing?  Did the Sena leadership reach the voter in rural areas during the zilla parishad elections in 27 districts? 

How can a party that wishes to form the government overlook district bodies, or the mini assembly?
CM Prithviraj Chavan said the Sena supremo will be rendered inconsequential post-BMC poll.
No party is finished because of a debacle in just one election. After the Congress debacle in 1977, post-emergency, we thought it will take over 20 years to come back. But within two years, people elected Congress back to power.

But with no strong leadership, how is the party going to grow?
With the senior Thackeray in no position of leading the cadre due to his age and health related issues, it all depends if the Sena is able to find an alternative. Time is the best solution on such issues. Political conditions may force leadership change, whether it’s two brother coming together or any other leader emerging as the new commandant.

You share a long-standing friendship with Bal Thackeray. Does he discuss politics with you?
No. Never.

This time round, you have taken so much interest in civic polls. Why?
I generally do not participate in the civic polls, but this time we were keen on pulling down the inefficient Sena-BJP government from BMC. Almost all of us in Delhi maintain a soft corner for Mumbai. I personally feel that I owe to Mumbai, which has been in a sorry state on many fronts, be it the healthcare, drinking water, affordable housing or the  education. However, the condition of this cosmopolitan metropolis is deteriorating by the day and we are determined to bring about a sea-change after we assuming power.

What if the alliance fails to get a clear majority?
I personally believe that the alliance will get clear majority in BMC. If not, then we will have to either go with the like-minded parties or sit in opposition. And MNS cannot be our like-minded party, as it has supported Sena in Ulhasnagar.

You had to interfere in the Cong-NCP mudslinging in the zilla parishad polls.
Every party wants to widen its base and the election period proves to be testing time for the leaders. The Congress and the NCP have been pitched against each other in the ZP elections. This led to the verbal clashes between the leaders from both parties. There are rumours in Delhi that the UPA will collapse post-UP elections. There is no reason for us to depart from the coalition. I don’t know about the other two, but for us, there is no question of parting ways from the centre government.