Uddhav Thackeray apologises for Saamana cartoon, tries to turn tables on BJP

In its first major climbdown, which insiders said resulted from a churn between the caste factions in its ranks, the Shiv Sena beat a retreat with party president Uddhav Thackeray apologising for a cartoon in the party mouthpiece Saamna on Saturday. The apology may also be aimed at ensuring that it is not the Sena, but the BJP – the party's senior ally in the state government – which is eventually singed by the anger of these protests.

The cartoon in the Sunday supplement of the newspaper, which has Uddhav as the editor and Rajya Sabha MP and spokesperson Sanjay Raut as the executive editor, had drawn the ire of organisations participating in the 'Maratha Kranti morchas'.

On Saturday, Uddhav said he was apologising to women if "sentiments had been hurt", but added there was no intent to hurt anyone. The Sena on Friday submitted a memorandum to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for a one-day legislature session to discuss the demand for quotas in jobs and education.

"The chief minister has said that he will give reservation. But there is no clarity on when this will be done. A time frame is necessary, else it will be a play on the community's sentiments," said Uddhav.

A senior Shiv Sena leader said Uddhav's decision to apologise was unanticipated and due to differences between the Marathas and the resurgent other backward classes (OBCs) in the party boiling over. He claimed that while the apology had satiated the Marathas, OBCs were feeling slighted. "The cartoon was not the official stance of the Shiv Sena," said the leader.

The upwardly mobile OBCs, who have benefited from quotas in the post-Mandal era, form a substantial bulk of the Shiv Sena's support base. However, they resent attempts by Marathas to gain entry into the OBC category.

Sena sources admit they are walking the tightrope as they cannot afford to alienate the OBCs or the Marathas, who form the largest caste grouping in Maharashtra with Kunbis. A large section of poor Marathas, who feel left out of traditional power structures also supports Sena.

A Shiv Sena source reasoned that Uddhav's apology could be aimed at defusing the situation before the Maratha morcha in Thane and NCP making use of it to turn the tables on the Sena in rural Maharashtra. Maratha leaders say since Kunbis (tillers) have been included in the OBC category, Marathas (warriors) also should be extended the benefits as the two were the same.