Strategic handshakes across party lines give rise to speculation of political realignment. The Senas — united or divided — key to equations before 2012 municipality elections
A realignment of political players in the state might be on the cards.
In a curious development, bitter political rivals are building bridges with each other and revisiting old relationships, and political parties inimical to each other are trying to mend fences. While it is too early to map the contours of the new development, the state’s polity looks to be in a churn.
A development loaded with political possibilities is the thawing of the chill between the Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). Last week, MNS chief Raj Thackeray called cousin Uddhav a great photographer. There are also hectic efforts at the ground level to bring the estranged brothers together. This would not be possible without a nod from the top leaders in the party.
Political observers feel it could be a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) strategy to bring the Sena and the MNS together to arrest the growth of the Congress in Mumbai and elsewhere. The Congress, with its eyes set on the 2012 BMC polls, would like to see the parties divided.
Apart from this high-profile potential rewiring, the most visible realignment seems to between senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Gopinath Munde. They have jointly taken a pledge to fight for the rights of the Other Backward Castes (OBCs). Unmindful of the jitters their bonding has caused within the NCP and BJP, the two OBC leaders have decided to take their battle for greater electoral representation of the community in politics to its logical end. It’s hard to miss the bonhomie.
“I accept Bhujbal as my leader,” said Munde. Bhujbal reciprocated saying, “It shows his (Munde’s) greatness.”
Political managers in the Congress are working overtime to find out the ramifications of the Bhujbal-Munde association. Some have sent feelers to both the leaders to consider Congress as the final destination before the 2014 assembly elections.
Revenue minister Narayan Rane’s recent friendly letter to Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray has also left political analysts intrigued. Till recently, Rane and Uddhav shared an acrimonious relationship. Last week, Rane received a copy of Uddhav’s book on forts of Maharashtra titled Maharashtra Deshi. In return, Rane sent a letter of appreciation to Matoshree, the Thackeray residence. What brought about the warmth? Nobody’s certain.
A common friend of Rane and Uddhav revealed, “Rane is building bridges with rivals knowing there are no permanent friends or enemies in politics.” Moreover, this is also a tactic to convey to the Congress to not take him for granted. There is also a section within the Sena which is working to get back all its former leaders to consolidate the organisation.
Meawhile, Nitesh Rane, Congress leader Narayan Rane’s younger son, has distanced himself from the Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC). He is pursuing an independent agenda under the banner of Swabhiman Sanghatana to get to the centre stage. A couple of days ago, Nitesh indicated his willingness to join hands with the MNS to raise the water crisis issue in city.
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