The more the things change, the more they remain the same — this adage applies to the Shiv Sena which is found on the plank of preserving the interest of Marathi manoos. In a bid to sustain itself when ally-turned-enemy BJP is trying to counter the party politically, Sena is harping back to its most trusted weapon of Marathi pride.
Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday told party corporators and workers to consolidate its core voter base in Greater Mumbai to render muscle to the party so that it can take on any upcoming electoral challenge. Thackeray also detailed on the party’s house-to-house outreach programme to checkmate the BJP’s extensive booth outreach.
Shiv Sena MP Anil Desai told DNA, “Shiv Sena is committed to preserve Marathi and will not tolerate any affront to its culture.’’
To revive the firebrand nature of the party, he exhorted the foot soldiers to deface boards not written in the local language. The party is planning to take on developers in the city who increasingly are changing ethnic names of localities to promote their business interest. Thackeray specifically referred to altering working class neighbourhoods like Lower Parel, Prabhadevi, Lalbaug locality names and replacing them by more posher alternatives.
Party workers have got standing instructions from Thackeray to deface such sign boards of developers if there is no compliance by June 30.
This battle for the language does not end with the business establishment alone. The abhorrence to the usage of Marathi extends to the city and state administration too, Thackeray said. The fact that the city’s Development Plan 2034 was not published in Marathi has left the Sena fuming. It has already demanded corrective action from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
It is clear that when surrounded by friends and foes alike, Shiv Sena is relying back on its most tried and tested strategy of Maratha pride. Furthermore, to tap the non-Marathi constituents, the party will continue to portray itself as a torch bearer of Hindutva.
Desai also informed that the party chief has asked its corporators to work hard to take the party a long way especially ahead of the ensuing Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.
REIGNITION
- To revive the firebrand nature of the Shiv Sena, party president Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday exhorted all party members to deface boards, especially those with names of locality, not written in Marathi.
- He also said that this abhorrence to using Marathi also extends to the city and state and administration as well.
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 "Uddhav Thackeray and Anil Desai")
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