Uddhav, Raj Thackeray come together on Bal Thackeray's anniversary; CM Devendra Fadnavis promises Balasaheb memorial

For the Shiv Sena, which has literally left out in the cold by its former ally, the BJP, the second death anniversary of party supremo Bal Thackeray came with some good tidings. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis who came down to the memorial located close to the spot where the Sena chief was cremated in 2012, said the state government had taken the initiative to set up a memorial for Thackeray Sr in Mumbai.
Also, in a gesture pregnant with political possibilities, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray's estranged cousin and MNS chief Raj Thackeray visited the Shivaji Park grounds to pay homages to his late uncle and spent time chatting with Uddhav.
In a show of strength, Shiv Sainiks and leaders from across the state had turned up in large numbers at the Park located at Dadar where a landscaped garden has been created in the Sena chief's memory.

What did Raj do?
At around 1.30 pm, Raj, who had been conspicuous by his absence last year, trooped in with former legislators Nitin Sardesai, Bala Nandgaonkar and Shishir Shinde. Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut was seen patting Raj on the back. Raj then shook hands with senior leader Ramdas Kadam and Uddhav's younger son Tejas who was sitting next to his father. The two cousins were then seen smiling and exchanging notes while sitting next to each other. Raj's visit sent ripples through the ranks of the Sena and the MNS.

What are the likely scenarios?
MNS leaders admit that with the party being nearly wiped out in the assembly polls — their strength fell from 13 in 2009 to just one now, they needed to explore the possibility of an "understanding or seat adjustment" with the Shiv Sena from which Raj split to set up his own front in 2006 after an intense power struggle with Uddhav. They pointed out that with the split between the Shiv Sena and the MNS taking Maharashtrian vs non-Maharashtrian hues, non-Marathis had voted with their feet for the BJP, with Marathis going with the Sena, thus leaving the MNS in the cold. All six MNS MLAs in Mumbai bit the dust. On the other hand, Sainiks too want closer co-operation with the MNS in the interests of Maharashtrian unity. The Sena has seen its pre-eminence in Mumbai come under threat from the BJP, which cornered 15 of the 36 assembly constituencies — one more than the nativist party.
"Today, was a sad day for Mumbai and Maharashtrians (due to Thackeray's death). Despite this, the coming together of the two brothers was a precious moment," said Nandgaonkar. "The Marathi manoos wants them to come together," he said, adding he had promised Thackeray Sr that he would try to broker a truce.

What did Fadnavis do?
After Raj's visit, Fadnavis and his cabinet colleagues Vinod Tawade, Vidya Thakur, Prakash Mehta and senior MLA Raj Purohit came to Shivaji Park to pay respects to Bal Thackeray. However, some overzealous Shiv Sainiks shouted slogans against the chief minister. Shiv Sainiks are angry at the BJP snapping off its alliance with the Sena before the assembly polls and striking a deal with the NCP to prop up its minority government in the state while keeping its erstwhile ally out of power. Describing Thackeray as a "father figure, beacon of hope and one whose blessings will also be with us," Fadnavis, said they had taken an "important decision" to "create a memorial in Mumbai that befits Balasaheb's personality."

What does this mean?
Though formal talks between the BJP and Sena have almost down and the later has accepted the post of the leader of the opposition in the assembly, the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), the ideological fountainhead of the Sangh Parivar and the BJP is said to have taken the lead to bring about a reconciliation. Though a large section of state BJP leaders want to join hands with the Sena again, they admit that the decision will be taken by prime minister Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah.

What are the sentiments in the Sena for a re-alignment with the BJP?
Sena insiders admit to a vertical split over joining a BJP-led government. While some legislators and leaders want to become ministers, many Sainiks wish for the party to sit in the opposition and claim the opposition space from the Congress and NCP, which are finding themselves at their lowest political ebb. They are upset at the Sena's "humiliation" by its former junior ally and insist that there is no point in seeking the crumbs of power after such treatment by the BJP. If the Sena sits in opposition, the country will see a first of its kind situation with two Hindutva parties at daggers drawn — one in the government and the other as the principal opposition. The Sena may also give a few tense moments to the BJP's minority government because of its infamous nuisance value.