Narayan Rane : A Longtime Sulking Leader

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Narayan Rane is sulking for quite a time now. The veteran leader, hailing originally from Shiv Sena and having shifted later to Congress, is hanging around Bharatiya Janata Party's lobby to get a berth in the Maharashtra cabinet.

However, his hopes do not appear to come to fruition anytime soon as BJP choses to place him on its waiting list. On Wednesday night, Rane met BJP President Amit Shah at his residence and later claimed that the latter promised a Rajya Sabha seat to him in lieu of the ministerial berth. CM Devendra Fadnavis and Mumbai BJP President Ashish Shelar as also Narayan Rane's MLA son Nitish were also present in the meeting.

Rane's claim cannot be taken at its face value because BJP has made en number of such promises to him in the past but never fulfilled it. Again, Rane himself makes these claims and there is no word from BJP and that makes the matter even more curious.

Rane had formed a new party called 'Maharashtra Swabhiman Paksh' last October after quitting the Congress and had indicated his organisation may align with the BJP

The 65-year-old leader known for his outspoken nature has pockets of influence in the Konkan region, mainly Sindhudurg district. Rane served as the chief minister in 1999 when he was in the Shiv Sena but is presently the bete noire of the party, a reason why BJP apparently cosied up to him. The Shiv Sena has been bitterly critical of Rane, who had objected to Uddhav Thackeray's elevation in the party.

Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray had expelled Rane from the party following which the Maratha leader joined the Congress on July 26, 2005. He was made the revenue minister in the then Congress-NCP government in the state the very next day.

Rane is also known for his aspiration to become the chief minister, an ambition he has professed publicly on many occasion to possess. "I still have an ambition to become the chief minister of Maharashtra. It never dies. I will wait for the right time to come," is his popular refrain. He claims that Congress had promised him to make CM but never made him one.

There were speculations in the past that Rane would join the BJP. However, a large section in the BJP was not in favour of his induction into the party. Rane resigned from the Congress in September last year after accusing the party having reneged on the promise of making him the chief minister. He had also resigned as a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council.

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Will Shiv Sena Benifit from Separation? Hardly!

Even though Shiv Sena has announced that it would fight the coming Assembly and Lok Sabha elections on its own, the challenge is not an easy one for the party. Shiv Sena has a herculean task ahead of it to attract middle-class and urban voters in the state who have turned to Bharatiya Janata Party lately. The party has set for itself an ambitious goal of winning 25 seats (out of a total 48) in Lok Sabha and 150 seats (out of a total 288) in the Assembly elections that are widely expected to happen before the schedule.

The war-cry given by Shiv Sena is not an easy one for the 50-year old party. It has to achieve exceptionally good performance in Mumbai, Vidarbha and Western Maharashtra regions. The party passed a resolution not to align with the BJP and go solo in the polls to be held next year. The National Executive meeting of the party was held coincidng with birth anniversary of Balasaheb Thackeray, the founder of the party.

BJP and Shiv Sena took advantage of resentment against the then ruling Congress and Nationalist Congress Party during the last Lok Sabha elections when they fought together and Assembly elections that they fought separately. However, BJP had made inroads in all regions except Konkan riding on the Modi wave. Vidarbha, especially Nagpur, is BJP's bastion and eroding the party's base there is a gigantic task.

This time around, political observers have placed their bets on Lok Sabha and Assembly elections being held together. So winning Vidarbha being ruled out, Shiv Sena has to focus on Mumbai, Western Maharashtra and Marathwada. In Mumbai, it cannot gain victory relying solely on the Marathi Manus agenda. Besides, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena is there, alive and kicking, to eat into its Marathi votes. It has had a glimpse of the reality last year during the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation election. On the contrary, north Indians, Gujarati etc. voters seems to vote en masse to BJP.

This is why Uddhav Thackeray spoke about the unadulterated Hindutva during the rally where he announced his decision to go solo. Thackeray has not forgotten how he had to sweat it out while winning back the BMC, the real power house of Shiv Sena. The party, with 63 MLAs and 18 MPs, is an ally of the BJP in the state and Centre but it wants to protect its own identity. That is why it is routinely attacking the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in the state over a variety of issues--from demonetisation and GST to the plight of farmers and cross-border assaults by Pakistan. Thackeray's announcement of contesting elections outside Maharashtra should be seen in this light. 

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Shiv Sena Is a Tiger Turned Tortoise - Ajit Pawar

With his days in opposition, Nationalist Congress Party leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar is making most of this opportunity. Speaking in Jalana in Marathwada region, he took potshots on Shiv Sena, a party that is sharing power with Bharatiya Janata Party with an extreme awkwardness. Putting his finger at Shiv Sena where it hurts most, Pawar said that Shiv Sena was a tiger during Balasaheb Thackeray’s days but has been since been reduced to be a tortise.

Shiv Sena has not become even a sheep or a hare, but tortoise that thrusts its neck and doing nothing, the leader said. A march was organized at Jafarabad in Jalana district as part of NCP’s campaign Halla Bol, that seeks to attack the ruling BJP for its alleged failures on all fronts, under the leadership of Pawar Jr. The statement came during the meeting after the march.
Targetting Shiv Sena for its precarious situation, Ajit Pawar said that the party threatened a hundred times during three years to leave the ruling alliance, but it couldn't resist the lure of power that has come to its way after full 15 years!

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Ravindra Gaikwad Brings Embarrassment for Shiv Sena Besides Himself

Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad was never known for his parliamentary prowess. Far from bringing fame to his constituency Osmanabad – one of the most backward districts in Maharashtra, he has brought disrepute for it. Incidentally, he is the second MP from Osmanabad to find himself in the soup. His predecessor and Nationalist Congress leader Padmasinh Patil was charged as conspirator of the murder of his cousin.

With the latest episode, Gaikwad has invited embarrassment for himself as well as his party Shiv Sena. The estranged ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party is already cornered with its recent failure to stop BJP's juggernaut in Mumbai Municipal Corporation election. It is also at odds with the BJP-led state government even after being a part of it. Shiv Sena has tried to take higher moral ground on issues like farmers' suicide and noteban. Gaikwad's ill tempered and ill timed misadventure has forced Shiv Sena to go on defensive.

The Delhi Police today registered an FIR against Gaikwad for assaulting an Air India staffer and transferred the case to its Crime Branch. Delhi Police chief spokesperson and special commissioner (operations) Dependra Pathak said a case has been registered under sections 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 355 (assault or criminal force with intent to dishonour person) of IPC. He said the case is being transfered to Crime Branch for a thorough probe.

Gaikwad hit 60-year-old duty manager, R Sukumar 25 times with his sandal when the official persuaded him to disembark after the plane landed at the IGI airport, New-Delhi from Pune. The entire episode has been captured on mobile and is going viral.

The MP refused to alight, holding up the aircraft for over 40 minutes yesterday. Police received two complaints in this regard- one from Air India and the other from Sukumar. What is worse, Gaikwad bragged on camera that he hit the AI employee.The incident took place on Thursday morning inside Air India's Pune- Delhi flight AI 852, when the aircraft landed in Delhi. Mr Gaikwad refused to disembark despite attempts of persuading him to do so. An Air India official also tried to pacify the MP, who vociferously complained about the morning flight to Delhi from Pune, not having business class.

Seven airlines including state owned AIR India have barred MP Gaikwad from flying. The Federation of Indian Airlines, which has Jet Airways, IndiGo, SpiceJet, AirAsia and GoAir as its members has decided to blacklist Gaikwad who admitted to his unruly behaviour with Air Indian staffer. The IndiGo even went ahead to cancel his ticket from Delhi to Pune scheduled today.

Taking serious note of Gaikwad’s behavior Shiv Sena has asked him to give an explanation over the issue. Party chief Uddhav Thackeray also sought AI’s version over the incident. Speaking to media in Mumbai yesterday, Shiv Sena Spokesperson Manisha Kayande stated that the party does not subscribe to any such reaction while MP Sanjay Raut, who is always on forefront in criticizing the BJP said that manhandling government employees cannot be party's program.

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Fadnavis Ups the Ante; BJP-SS Tussle Becomes Fierce

The Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis lashed out at the Shiv Sena today as he squarely blamed the party for lackluster performance of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. Shiv Sena did nothing for the Marathi people and only exploited them by appealing to emotions, he said. The development promised the fierce battle for the numero uno municipal body in Maharashtra.

Fadnavis, leading the charge of BJP's campaign from municipal elections, addressed a rally in Girgam in South Mumbai. The polling for the much-coveted BMC, is to take place on February 21.

Fadnavis said, "You people (Shiv Sena) have paid only lip service to the people of the city and Marathi people for the last 20 years. But the grim reality is that they lack basic amenities and here in Girgam, water is supplied only for an hour. Is this development of the city? Please stop playing the emotional chord with Marathi people."

Fadnavis also came down heavily on Shivsena chief Uddhav Thackeray for his jibe about BJP's promises on Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. "What the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya has to do with BMC elections? Why don't you talk about the development agenda for Mumbai city? And Yes, our party has mentioned this issue (Ayodhya) in its manifesto for Uttar Pradesh polls," he said.

Sena was not focusing on issues of development and transparency because it had done nothing on these counts, while BJP had a development agenda that would transform the city, the Chief Minister said.

Fadnavis also targeted Sena over the bad condition of roads in Mumbai and said the irregularities and lack of transparency in the functioning of BMC was plaguing the city.

In a dig over the alleged `de-silting scam' in BMC, he said, "The way the work of de-silting of nullahs was carried out by the people of BMC and its caretakers, only (southern superstar) Rajinikanth could have done it (in such a non-feasible way).

Earlier, BJP said that it had "enough ammunition" and would expose Shiv Sena in the last week of campaign for the February 21 elections to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections.

Asked about all-out attack launched by Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on BJP, his party's ruling ally in the state government, Tawde said, "Thackeray has already exhausted all his firepower against us in the very first phase of election campaign. I feel Sena will not have issues in their hand to attack us with during the last phase of campaigning."

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Uddhav Thackeray - The Man Who Perfected the Art of Sulking

By aligning with MLA Bachchu Kadu, the maverick politician from Vidarbha, Shiv Sena's Executive President Uddhav Thackeray has yet again proved that he was dead serious about opposing BJP. Kadu, who runs his outfit Prahaar in Vidarbha, is known mainly for his outlandish agitations. Since these agitations involve people's core issues, he enjoys a huge following in the region. It is the same region where Shiv Sena faced noticeable losses during the recently held municipal elections. It is the same region where BJP registered its strong performance accounting for almost one-third of its seats in the same elections that lifted it up to the top spot. 

Thus, joining hands with Kadu will ensure that Shiv Sena will leverage the former's popularity to challenge the blitzkrieg of its once-ally. Shiv Sena needs an aggresive leader in Vidarbha to counter BJP while Kadu needs a party like Shiv Sena. Interestingly, Kadu, an independent MLA from Achalpur in Amravati district, has extended support tp the Devendra Fadnavis' government. It is another marking of Thackeray's sulking and taking  his saffron friend-turned-adversary head on.

Actually another of his current adversaries and cousin Raj Thackeray pioneered this art. However, none has matched the level of perfection that Uddhav Thackeray has attained. He has given shape to a new kind of politics in Maharashtra where he is the ruler and opposition and that too concurrently! 

Just before completing (one must stay away from using the word 'celebrating!) two years in the Devendra Fadnavis-led government, Uddhav Thackeray came up with another salvo. In the meeting held with the Shiv Sena shakha pramukhs and vibhag pramukhs, he was understood to have expressed his displeasure on the non-performance of his party ministers. He reportedly conveyed his unhappiness over the fact the party didn't use the power even when after being part of the ruling coalition.

One doesn't know how much salt these reports hold, but it is hardly surprising even when they turn out to be entirely true. Ever since the Fadnavis-led government has assumed charge, Shiv Sena has received a raw treatment. To start with, its ministers were allocated with non-descript portfolios and most of them were made state ministers. Thus, most of them are working under a BJP minister.

Except for Industries Minister Subhash Desai, no Shiv Sena leader has been able to showcase his prowess, let alone achievements. For example, Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam fought a  long battle with the bureaucrats in his ministry for the authority to approve development projects. It was CM Fadnavis himself who had to intervene and pacify the matter.

At various occasions, Uddhav Thackeray has expressed the need for giving more authority to Shiv Sena ministers. However, the CM has exploited the vulnerability of its apparent ally and actual rival. The recent results of the municipal councils in the state have established Fadnavis as an able leader and Shiv Sena as the foremost rival of BJP. Having decimated Congress and Nationalist Congress Party, the CM enjoys popular support and goodwill of party bosses. 

Uddhav Thackeray harmed his own interests when in the fever of election campaigning, he compared Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah to Aurangzeb and Afzal Khan.  Both the leaders are known for their self-loving nature. They could have never taken that diatribe easily. As was expected, they harbored a hatred for their faithful friend for 25 years. It was only because of CM Fadnavis' insistence that Shivsrna was allowed an entry to the government, as the CM didn't want any truck with the NCP. 

Uddhav Thackeray, who inherited a blatantly raging party from his father Balasaheb Thackeray, moderated it to a great measure. He tried and managed to turn a party of vandalism into the party of discourse and debate.  Now, he wants to take the U-turn and make the cadre furious again. The matters become a bit complex here because after enjoying the  power for two years, not many Shiv Sena members are ready to abandon it. This explains Uddhav Thackeray's helplessness in sticking to power even after so much humiliation.

 This is a very curious turn in Maharashtra's politics. Both Shiv Sena and BJP flourished in the state, as in other parts of the country, on the strong Hinduist agenda. As they gained force, after going through a roller coaster ride, both are them in power today. However, neither of them is talking of Hindutva anymore.

On one hand BJP, buoyed by Narendra Modi's cult status, is talking about development and infrastructure. On the another, Shiv Sena's Hinutva has zeroed on anti-Pakistanism. It has lost many of its basic ingredients that made it palatable and appealing to masses,say, two decades ago. And yet, both of them are enjoying a comfortable ride in the absence of credibility on the part of  opposition parties - Congress and Nationalist Congress Party.  

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Who rule Maharashtra - Babus or Ministers?

The Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis has complained that many bureaucrats in his administration moved slowly and were not cooperating with his government's initiatives which ultimately hampered the people's works. He made the grievance publicly during a program in Nagpur and his comments attracted intense displeasure from the bureaucracy.  

Even political analysts and opposition leaders saw this complaint as a lame excuse by Fadnavis for many of the failures of his government. However, he could be forgiven for putting up a strong sentiment among the public on a public forum. Just a little more than a year, people watched him launch one after another attack on the ruling parties, when he was leader of opposition and state president of Bharatiya Janata Party.

Fadnavis is a very youthful CM and the citizens expected him to lead an enthusiastic and active government. However, ever since he sworn in on October 31 last year, his government was perceived going slow and having a staggered journey.  One reason for this laggardness was the constant opposition by the 'ally' Shiv Sena and another was the non-cooperation from babus.

After decades of Congress rule, these babus became very cosy with the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party. Except for four and half years’ rule of SS-BJP during intervening years, the officers enjoyed patronage and company of Congress leaders. Even today, they are uneasy to work with any other dispensation and many of them are said to be taking orders from former rulers. The people having their ears to the state secretariat in Mumbai even vouch that many of the bureaucrats routinely jest on their new masters.

Not that the mandarins in Mantralaya were quite competent during Congress rule or moved in haste during those years. Even when Congress was in power, the bureaucracy, in true Indian fashion and largely following the British tradition, worked at an excruciating pace. Some CMs tried to change this situation and were successful to an extent after acquiring stern postures over the years.

A. R. Antulay was one of such ruler who tried to rein in the babus and left his stamp on the administration. Antulay was known as a dynamic politician and attracted fame for his prompt and efficient decision-making. Not only he decided on matters instantly, he looked to it that they were implemented to the core. Shankarrao Chavan and Sharad Pawar came to be known as good administrators during their tenures as CMs. In fact, Chavan was so demanding in his functioning that he came to be called as Head Master.

Sadly, the latter CMs could not keep up the tempo and secretary-level officials got hold on the functioning of the government. Matters only got worsened during last two decades. 

The matters were confounded by the fact that most members of the BJP-SS cabinet, which is in place at the moment, are first-timers. CM Fadnavis himself leads the charge in this regard also. Eknath Khadse, the lone BJP minister in his cabinet who held the post during the saffron alliance’s last government from 1995-99, has not helped the matter in any way as he has not recovered yet from his fretting for not being made CM in Fadnavis’ place.

Thus, babus take advantage of their increase and they have the field left open for them as they claim more experience than the elected representatives who are technically their superiors. This has led to wrangling between two these arms of the government. It manifested some months ago when Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam kept thousands of files in limbo and refused to sign on them as secretary of his ministry wanted powers to sign on them. 

It took CM Fadnavis himself to intervene in favor of his cabinet colleague. However, the episode only reinforced the theory that the political and administrative branches of the government do not share bonhomie. No surprise then that governance has taken a beating in the Maharashtra and people are openly asking – who rules the state?

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Allies Keep Their Honor Intact

It was no less than a clash of titans and the whole of Maharashtra, at least the Maharashtra that takes interest in politics, was looking at it anxiously. The Kalyan Dombiwali Municipal Corporation's election promised a close, almost bloody fight and it turned out to be so. However, in the end, both the two parties could claim final victory but managed to keep their honor intact.

Even though Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party share the power in the state and the center, neither of the parties shares cordial relations. Not that they had sweet memories of their co-habitation for the last 25 years, but their relations have touched ridiculously low during last one year. Ever since severing ties in last October, none of the saffron party has made any sincere attempt of reconciliation. Even after seating side by side in the state cabinet, they have not really accepted each other. Therefore, when these two allies faced each other in KDMC election, all eyes were set on what ensured to be the fireworks.

The campaigning for the election lived up to that promise. Both Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis left no stone unturned and indulged in freestyle wrestling with their verbal attacks. Cases of attacks, on the workers from and by both parties, were reported and registered. Even bullets were fired before ballots and the politics in this neighboring city of Mumbai turned bloody.

In the final phase of the campaigning, the fight became even murkier as Thackeray and Fadnavis dropped all pretentions and indulged in mud slinging. The verbal duel led to some uncharacteristic remarks as well by Fadnavis.

However, as results rolled out from the electronic voting machines on Monday, Shiv Sena seemed to edge past winning post during the early rounds and BJP managing to post honorable tally. However, the dance of democracy could be seen in full vigor by late afternoon, as Shiv Sena remained 10 seats away from the majority and BJP almost running neck to neck to it. It is clear that Shiv Sena will be able to muster majority, with the help from Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and independents, while BJP can boast of increased strength - its tally having gone up to 42 from the 9.

Neither Shiv Sena lost its hold on the backyard of Mumbai, its strong bastion literally, nor BJP was wiped out before the former's blitzkrieg. All other parties, including Congress, Nationalist Congress Party, MNS and others just drifted away in the barrage of these two parties; and meanwhile, Majlis-E-Ittehad-ul-Musalmin got away with two seats in its first ever test of strength. That was the real danger bell for the self-proclaimed 'secular' parties! 

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Shiv Sena Begs for Respect

Ever since experiencing unprecedented victory in Lok Sabha elections, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray is on a high. Since then, he is begging for respect and honor which Bharatiya Janata Party under Narendra Modi and Amit Shah refuse to accord. It seems he has missed the bus now and BJP’s victory procession passed by. 

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Thackerey Feud Brings Firecrackers Before Diwali

The citizens of Maharashtra are witnessing a dazzling show of firecrackers full weeks ahead of Diwali. The show, which can beat a laser show in any case, is taking during Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation election where two branches of Thackerey family are letting no stone unturned in their verbal assault.

Balasaheb Thackerey, original doyen of Marathi politics, hit out at his now famous nephew, whom he himself has mentored over last four decades, set the ball rolling. The senior Thackerey, unambiguously referred as Tiger in Maharashtra, lashed out at Raj Thackerey, who is son of Balasaheb's younger brother Shrikant. Apparently, the senior tiger is unhappy that the cub he fostered over the years severed his ties and chose to led his own party. Not only did Raj took his own paths, he chose own destinations and ways to tread it.

Unfortunately enough, the ways of tiger and his foster cub crossed creating obvious conflict. The cub tiger did not want to serve one who, in former's eyes, is incapable of doing justice to the agenda of the party. Matters became worse for senior one when the cub inherited all mannerisms, roaring and all, from his mentor. Tiger's own son skipped those lessons during adolescence and claimed his place when the fostered cub was about to take to throne.

When people of Maharashtra took liking to roaring of Raj during two subsequent elections in state last year, it was but only an inference that Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena will have to slug it out to became the alternative party to Congress and National Congress Party. The signs were visible much earlier but the reading on the wall became legible only after 13 candidates entered the legislative assembly of Maharashtra in October last year. This was the background when Bal Thackerey hit out at Raj saying that 'he copies me. The mannerisms and copying are not the only things. There must be thought, philosophy.'

Miffed by his uncle's attack, Raj did what he refrained from doing for last four years, when he finally parted ways with his previous party. Known for his incisive tongue, Raj had restrained from putting Balasaheb at the gunpoint. 'He is deity to me and my fight is not with him, but with the middlemen around him,' he had insisted saying this for all these years. But after the sharp criticism from his uncle at Dussehara rally in Mumbai, he could not hold himself more. He opened fire at the man who, as Raj himself proclaimed even during the volcano-type eruption, was and is most venerable for him.

'Why is he repeating the same things over and over again? It is a plain fact that I was suffocating in the party. I did not have any rights. Some people assumed authority because of which I left Shiv Sena,' he pleaded in his characteristic style in front of two lakh people who gathered to listen him. In the history of municipal elections in Maharashtra, any public rally with that much size is called huge. Two lakhs people coming to a meeting for municipal election was never heard before. Added to that, the cheering and clapping from the people must have raised the spirits of MNS candidates.

When Raj put aside his oath and targeted Balasaheb Thackerey, it was but given that the diatribe would be aptly replied. And it was so. Raj's cousin and Balasaheb's own son, Uddhav, came out in open to verbally assault the MNS leader referring to Mahabharata. It was after all Uddhav, who is blamed by Raj as well as Narayan Rane, for meddling in Shiv Sena and deliberately reducing the two to their size. Both Raj and Rane attribute their desertion from Shiv Sena to Uddhav's high handedness, keeping their regard for Balasaheb intact. This gives enough reasons to Uddhav, more known for his skills in photography, to have personal grudge against the former two.

Uddhav, even though lacking in the as hardihood as Raj, targeted him saying all the obvious things. He tried to create an emotional flutter in his audience, which is forte of Shiv Sena over last five decades, saying he would not tolerate anything said against his father. Here, one was tempted to point to an episode in Maharashtra polity when the government contemplated arresting Bal Thackerey about two years ago. In his unmistakable style, Raj''s jumped the bandwagon and threatened to 'raise a hellstorm' if anyone touched Shiv Sena chief. Uddhav, through the party's mouthpiece, Saamana, had hit out at him and had said Shiv Sena is capable of defending its chief.

The same leader is now resorting to same statements. These firecrackers are adding element to otherwise a minuscule and dull election for the election of Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation.

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Ignorant Lot Make Insensitive Statements

Where ignorance is bliss, it is folly to be wise. And where ignorant lot is given celebrity status, it is more so. Movie stars and Bollywood artists, who has become dear to media across the sub-continent were never famous for informed pronouncements. So it was hardly surprising when Salman Khan, least of all the uninformed and put-your-foot-in-mouth brigade went public with his completely misplace statements. Salman's statement is politically incorrect to the core, but what adds gravity of the situation is the fact is he spoke to a Pakistani channel.

It did not required a pundit to predict the uproar from all political quarters after the actor spoke what he should not have. Salman is notorious for being in soup many times on earlier occasions. A man who was accused of creating nuisance at his lover's house, making scene with colleagues at pub and most of all alleged to have killed deers while shooting for a film-is not expected to study the situation prior and after to 26/11 in Mumbai. The Pakistani media persons did their job skillfully. Now asking for an apology will do little good to Salman's image, adding one more embarrassment to his already overflowing repertoire.

During an interview to a Pakistani channel, Salman said that the 26/11 attacks were hyped up because "elite people" were targeted.

"It was the elite that was targeted this time. Five-star hotels and all. So, they panicked. Then, they got up and spoke about it. My question is why not before. Attacks have happened in trains and small towns too, but no one talked about it so much," Salman reportedly told Pakistan's Express 24/7 channel in an interview.

Salman's comments have been described as "anti-national" by parties like the Shiv Sena. Maharashtra's Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and Deputy Chief Minister Chagan Bhujbal, who will usually avoid making any comments where a Muslim actor is involved, spoke this time explicitly. According to Chavan,

“It doesn't matter whether a big or small person has died. It's very serious matter for the country when somebody loses his life in a militant attack. We need to work together to root out terrorism.”

Bhujbal, who called the statement "uninformed", was more to the point. He said:

"He is an actor. He does not have the information to make a comment on whether the Pakistani govt was involved or not. People travelling in taxis, constables, waiters, hotel workers, all lost their lives in the attacks."

Shiv Sena was more vociferous in its reaction, being a flag bearer of Hindu ideology. Party leader Sanjay Raut said,

The 26/11 attacks were a war against the nation. Salman should apologise for his remarks. Ambani was not staying at the CST, nor was Tata or Birla staying in Cama Lane

The Bharatiya Janata Party also criticised Khan for his unwanted comments. Ravi Shankar Prasad, BJP spokesperson, said:

26/11 attack was an attack on India. We cannot forget that Indian citizens were killed. This was not a small issue for Salman Khan to comment. This was an attack meticulously planned by Pakistan.

Special Prosecutor in 26/11 trial, Ujwal Nikam, described Khan's statement as naive.

It appears that without knowing the details of the terror attack, the actor made such statements," said Nikam, adding, "I shall say these are childish remarks. They (terrorists) don't make any distinction between rich and poor. It is judicially established that the outcome was a deep routed criminal conspiracy hatched in Pakistan and the targets were deliberately selected to wage war against India.

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Games Politicians Play

Anyone who had even a tiny doubt about the talk of corruption, hawala and black money involved in Indian Premier League 3 might have been forced to rethink his analyzing ability of the current situation. One of the most powerful politicians of the country finding himself cornered on the murkier wickets of scandal speaks volumes about the manner in which the biggest entertainment of the country was run for last three years.

Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar and his daughter Supriya Sule are still struggling to get rid of the ‘IPL-gate’ taint. There explanation ranged from “we have nothing to do with the Pune bid” to “City Corporation’s chief Aniruddha Deshpande bid personally for the IPL Pune team.” Latest is that, Pawar has asked he has some small stake in the Royal Challengers Bangalore team.

A national daily that Mr Pawar and his immediate family controlled over 16% equity in a Pune-based construction company City Corp, one of the bidders for an IPL cricket team. The company bid Rs 1176 crore for a franchise. It was another matter that Sahara group, which pledged a bigger amount, emerged as the winner. The Pawar family, admitted that the company owned partly by them did try to buy a cricket team. But they tried to put the onus on Deshpande saying he was personally involved in the bid and not the company. This was a brazenly ridiculous pretext which was least expected from a seasoned politician like Pawar. Did he really wanted the countrymen to believe that Deshpande was staking Rs 1176 Crores for and on behalf of himself? Is it possible for a builder, let alone the one who has Pawar family as stakeholders in his company?

Pawar appeared to have in deep water as the opposition parties, mainly Bharaiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena are already gunning for his resignation? BJP was consistently targeting the Sugar-Strongman for his failure on the agriculture front, which he is supposed to manage as the minister. "When the IPL controversy came to the fore, Sharad Pawar and his family members repeatedly said they had nothing to do with it. After this report it is very clear that Pawar has not only mismanaged the food economy of the country but also misled the country," BJP Chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters.

The main opposition party also demanded Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the IPL affairs, saying the statements made by Pawar and his family members on the IPL issue were "lame excuses" and the matter should be inquired into "extensively". The party’s demand, however politicized it might sound, has some justification. With a union minister sitting at home over the under-cover deals and a minister bidding his time to do so, the IPL 3 has threw enough worms to infect the polity. The sports has long taken a backseat and it is the cloudy dealing of money that is the talk of the town.

Nation deserves to know who and how took the people for a ride in the name of a sport with biggest fan following. If on the contrary, government, officials and officials continue to impress upon the public that everything is alright with the game, then they either living in the fool’s paradise or thinking that public is. Fortunately or unfortunately, neither of them do so.

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Cases Count Too Little Against Raj Thackerey

Raj Thackerey, it seems has become the new obsession of media and police and administration.

PTI has reported that Raj Thackeray. chief of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena is facing as many as 73 criminal cases in various courts all over Maharashtra for allegedly inciting riots which broke out after his arrest in connection with anti-North Indian tirade launched by his party in 2008, police said.

Of the 73 cases, Raj has appeared in six cases and secured bail. In the rest of the cases he has yet to appear in person and get bail, the report quotes.

As the cases are still in the court of law, one can not authoritatively comment on them. But there seems no reason to believe that these cases will cause any damage to his political career. Foremost of all, he is not going to contest a election so he is unlikely to lose something. His erstwhile mentor and inspiration Balasaheb Thackerey, the Shive Sena chief forfeited his right to vote for six years but commands the same authority over his party. Raj can do the same.

The cases, in truly Maharashtra police fashion, are built on some distant relations. Raj can claim he had not directly incited the crowd and whatever happened was a legitimate reaction from his angry followers. If only, the count of cases only provides a relief to the rival parties, which unfortunately includes mediamen.

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Storm In the Session! Really?

Before the advent of each session of legislature, it is a kind of ritual now to carry the stories on possible issues testing government. Accordingly, this time the media is saying that Congress-Nationalist Congress Party alliance government is said to be pushed to corner over some issues. These are `leakage' of the Pradhan Committee report on 26/11 terror attacks and farmer suicides. The question is : will it really?

The winter session of Maharashtra is beginning at Nagpur on Tuesday. It is expected to be dominated by above issues. The opposition is grinding its axe to attack the government on leakage of the report and reported allegations by former Police Commissioner Hasan Gafoor. The top official has pointed four top police officers guilty of 'dereliction of duty' during the attacks. Allegations made by slain IPS officer Ashok Kamte's widow, Vinita, against Mumbai Crime Branch chief Rakesh Maria of mishandling the situation on 26/11 would also be raised in the House.

I suspect any furore will be raised over these issues. Was not it just three months ago that the same issues were predicted to bring a fall in government? Was not it that opposition parties, mainly Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party were betting heavily on farmers' suicides as their main election plank? Is it not futile to think that anything related with 26/11 will create a flutter, let alone a storm even one year after the incident and even when the main alive culprit Ajmal Kasab is yet to receive punishment?

With Maharashtra Navnirman Sena pursuing its own agenda of justice to locals, BJP still basking in the glory of retrieving leader of opposition's post in legislature assembly and Shiv Sena yet to come to terms with its lacklustre performance, who will raise questions and who will create a storm? Hence, even though the seriousness of questions being same, seriousness of any talk regarding serious business in assembly is a distant dream?

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Uddhav’s Brave Front: Too Late, Too Lame

That Uddhav Thackarey, executive president of Shiv Sena spoke over his party’s defeat after full four days after election results were out in itself speaks volume about his preparedness to tackle the situation head on. He might have taken this much time to come out of the shock he received at the hands of his cousin Raj Thackarey. Maharashtra Nanirman Sena has truly emerged as the party to watch during this election with its 13 elected members. Shiv Sena has received the worst drubbing in the sense that it has been relegated to fourth position in terms of number of seats. And worse is that BJP has come out with more seats than Shiv Sena, its alliance partner, even though the situation was other way round since 1984 when the alliance was formed.

What Uddhav has said shows that he is not ready to read the situation in its true sense. It was never a characteristic of Thackarey family, be it Balasaheb or Raj or Uddhav, to acknowledge own follies. The latest rhetoric from Uddhav goes on the same line. He is saying that MNS factor, which was key in losses suffered by Shiv Sena will be washed  out within two years. On the contrary, political analysts and observers, majority of whom constitute the detractors of MNS, are unanimous that it is MNS which is sure to play the role of main opposition party in next elections, unless some drastic measures are adopted by Shiv Sena.

Those measures are still to be seen. Uddhav missed to be a brave man in facing the loss generously. Instead, he hid himself and came out when his statement mattered too little. His analysis also did not show any hard hitting retrospection which could have helped the sinking fortunes of the party. It was a lacklustre statement and going by the common Shiv Sainik’s natural instincts, it was a lame excuse for the defeat.

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End of an epoch in Maharashtra politics?

With Diwali over, every politician, journalist and gossip mongers were behind the results of the assembly elections. While all major surveys and exit polls had gone in favour of the ruling Congress and Nationalist Congress Party alliance, they are still seen with a suspect given the impeccable track record of such surveys in the past. Opinion and exit polls are considered fickle next only to the forecasts by meteorology department in India. With large numbers of rebels, new enfant terrible like Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, Jan Surajya Party and Republican Left Democratic Front, the fight was sure to be most difficult of all times. but even than that, this election will go down in the history of Maharashtra as one bringing an epoch to close.

That epoch of course being the political rivalry and influence of two personalities who have influenced the politics of state for over three to four decades. Yes, you guessed it right. After the result, Bal Thackerey, the Shiv Sena chief and Sharad Pawar, the NCP chief will not hold the sway like before in this election. Thackerey, who founded Shiv Sena in 1966 and headed single handedly since then is now an old tiger. He is credited with bringing the first non-Congress government in state which worked its full term. That this government was formed in alliance with Bharatiya Janata Party does not make any dent in his contribution. On the contrary, he was the only acceptable mascot of the alliance in state.

Bal Thackerey was the chief pioneer of Marathi son of soil agitations. An entire party was built on this issue but he had to relegate the issue to give it a broader ambit, that of Hindutva. But such was his clout that not a finger was raised towards him for navigating to other waters. He had built a dedicated supporter base and those supporters were ready to follow him wherever he lead. No questions asked, no questions permitted either. For years on years, media watched him addressing rallies at Shivaji Park in Mumbai . People thronged in hordes, growing in numbers each year. Media used all sorts of words to downplay his cult following, ranging from rhetoric to venom. But he grew in clout. He grew manifolds. Soon, Shiv Sena was seen ruling in the Mumbai Municipal Corporation , next only perhaps to legislature assembly in terms of political and administrative importance. The power in the MMC also gave access to immense resources to the party. Within 25 years from the formation of the party, Shiv Sena was seriously challenging the hegemony of Congress rule. In 1990 assembly elections, the SS-BJP alliance missed political power by whiskers. Within a year, it got its biggest shock till then.

Chhagan Bhujbal left Shiv Sena in December 1991 since he was miffed after being ignored for the post of leader of opposition in state assembly. His expectation was justified as he was party’s lone knight in the assembly since 1985. Still, Thackerey, who was now called Balasaheb with an appreciative accent by even his detractors, did not mend his fences. He still kept his hold on the party, dictated his terms and reigned over Mumbai. With some favorable developments and vigorous campaigning, he managed to what he called, “Furl the saffron flag on assembly.” Even though SS-BJP combine suffered losses in later years, in terms of seats and human capital also, that Bal Thackerey is a catchword in the Maharashtra’s political scene is a foregone conclusion. From trade unions to Bollywood, from students to the average middle class person, from women to activists, there is no as mesmerizing thing as a call  from the octogenarian leader.

On his part, Thackerey has seldom missed a chance to show that he is a truckload of fire in his belly. For a party constantly harping on Chhatrapati Shivaji’s name for its livelihood, it is nothing less than a blasphemy to denounce the project of Shivaji memorial which is coming up in Arabian sea off Mumbai coast. It was not without nothing that the party telecasted a long interview of the Old Tiger recently on all major Marathi channels. It is a last ditch effort to encash its most successful brand in an era when the party is desperately missing the aggressive frontmen. This interview also proved that for Marathi audience, there is nothing as entertaining, as enthralling a presentation as a direct speech oratory of Thackerey.

Now with Shiv Sena losing the election, then it is over for Thackerey who pledged last time that he will not remove the beard unless the party is voted back in power. With his frail health and lost hopes, he is not expected to guide the party in next elections, let alone lead it. His struggles against the Congress will be recorded as a crusader who showed that David can fight the Goliath while becoming Goliath himself. We should see his latest outbursts against his nephew Raj for betraying the Marathi cause. At this age after so many decades, it is always hard to digest the bitter truth.

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Raj Charges Up The Scene

He enters the place where a grand stage is erected. As he put his foot on the ground towards the direction of the stage, whole atmosphere comes alive with the sound of crackers and bursting of fires in the sky. To top this lighting, a cumulative voice soars new height with each passing moment hailing the young leader. As he comes to the microphone, there is a pin drop silence. Next one hours, the crowd of at least over 50 thousands hears to the leader. He minces no words in deriding his opponents and steals the show by hitting a cord with each member of the crowd.

This is Raj Thackerey for you.

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief has taken centrestage in the ensuing assembly elections in the state. He is the clear winner of this political game, at least for now, even before the assembly elections are over. Every party leader is on his backfoot while coping with the popularity of Raj. This has led them to go into denial mode. Surprisingly, each one expects that MNS will eat away share of other party?s votes. After affecting the election results in the parliamentary elections just six months ago, nobody is ready to undermine MNS as far as electioneering is concerned. His party is seen as a potential Shiv Sena in the making

It is ironic that foremost among Raj?s opponents turned out to be Shiv Sena of which he was a prominent leader just three years ago. After being sidelined in SS by his uncle and SS chief Balasaheb Thackerey, who favoured his own son over Raj, he chose to trade his own path. He formed MNS in May 2006 and chose Marathi pride as its main plank. This was the same agenda on which SS worked on for four decades. It did not afford to lose his issue. Adding fuel to fire, Uddhav, the heir apparent of SS did not have the charisma or following which Raj inherited from Balasaheb.

Just yesterday, there were three rallies in Pune: that of Rahul Gandhi, Sharad Pawar and Raj Thackerey. Political analysts unanimously agreed that the most lively and most crowded of all these meeting was addressed by Raj. This when he held three successive rallies in the city on a single day. How many candidates of MNS can be elected is not that important. What is important is the relation he establishes with the youths-his core voters. No other leader in the state is able to charm the youths like Raj does. This is the reason why Ajit Pawar today said that NCP will not shy away a government with the help from MNS. Since he knows that the clout Raj enjoys is surely going to tore apart political equations, made by Congress-NCP as well as Sena-BJP.

(To be continued)

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Party time for rebels-2

State in a In-fighting state

Apart from Pune, the scene at the state level is also dismal. The biggest news of rivalry this time is that in the Amravati constituency. Sunil Deshmukh, a Congress minister in the state cabinet has accused President Pratibha Patil of misusing her position to get a ticket for her son Raosaheb Shekhawat. The party has denied a ticket to Deshmukh in favour of Shekhawat. Deshmukh has solace in the fact that various non-partisan organisations, including Vanrai have supported him. But he had little option to jump in the fray as a rebel candidate which he did.

In fact, Congress-NCP combine deliberately delayed announcement of candidates' list so as to avoid rebellion. Dilip Sopal, former NCP minister has filed his nomination from Barshi in Solapur distric against the official nominee. Another former NCP minister, Digvijay Khanvilkar is also standing in Kolhapur as an independent candidate. He was defeated in Kolhapur (South) by Satej Patil, then an independent candidate. In a twist of fate, Satej aka Bunty Patil is now official Congress nominee while Khanvilkar is his independent rival.

Most bizarre incident of rebellion occurred in Jamkhed in Ahmednagar district. Sharad Lokhande, sitting MLA from BJP was again given a ticket from the same constituency. But he rejected the ticket and made headed towards Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. The two time MLA is a MNS candidate now from Kurla. In a new low of part politics, chief minister Ashok Chavan's cavalcade faced footwear just yesterday. Chavan was at Loha near Nanded to address a rally in support of NCP candidate Shankar Dhongde. It is suspected that supporters of Pratap Patil Chikhlikar, sitting independent MLA from Loha did throw the footwear at CM. Chikhlikar is a supporter of Vilasrao Deshmukh, former chief minister and now union minister of heavy industries. He has supported the Congress-NCP government for last five years but does not have cordial relations with Chavan.

In Shiv Sena, the number of rebel is equally high. Sada Sarvankar, sitting legislator member of party has joined Congress. To top it, he has alleged that Uddhav Thackerey, executive president of Shiv Sena was behind the attack on Manohar Joshi's house which happened last week. That attack itself was indicative how widespread the discontent was in the party. For NCP, Udayanraje Bhosale, the descendant of Chhatrapati SHivaji is busy giving NCP a run for its money. He has already declared that he will field his own candidates in Satara district. The NCP MP from Satara has made enough statements to damage to standing of party in Western Maharashtra.

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Confusion Party of Maharashtra

Even as the assembly elections fever is yet to catch up with public, political parties are finding it difficult to manage the unbearable tension. On the one hand, no party is sure as to whom it should align to. Secondly, the political atmosphere is so divided and obscure that no one has any idea of clicking it big this time. This is the most confusion times in Maharashtra.

Congress and Nationalist Congress Party, ruling for almost ten years in the state, are still entangled in the seat sharing war. Congress wants NCP to blink first and it has justification for its demand. It has garnered most seats in the recently held Lok Sabha elections. At the same time, NCP has suffered huge losses due to various factors. One of the major failures of NCP is in Satara district. Sharad Pawar, national chief of NCP chose Udayanraje Bhosale, 13th descendent of Chhatrapati Shivaji as party's candidate to consolidate Maratha votes. Even though Bhosale was elected, and he was destined to be as his leadership is unchallenged in the Satara constituency, he refused to align himself with the party's stand. Right from the campaigning, Udayanraje acquired a posture which more or less eroded party's position in Satara and eventually Western Maharashtra.

Unable to bargain for more seats, NCP is now trying its hard to hold on to existing seat sharing formula. But it is unlikely that it will get 124 seats. Congress leadership in the state was forced to eat many bitter pills in last ten years due to NCP's better position. Now, all the side effects of those pills are spilling out. Even if the sharing takes place, there will be much internal manoeuvring for the detriment of each other. A meeting of both parties is to take place at Varsha, the official residence of Chief Minister Ashok Chavan.

Opposition parties do not have a much unenviable position. While Shiv Sena has suffered losses in the urban belts in Lok Sabha elections, Bharatiya Janata Party has to put its own house in order before plunging in elections. The only solace these parties have is that they have an alliance in place and their seat sharing formula is almost finalised. Shiv Sena even though accepted to give same number of seats to BJP, but is yet to be convinced that its ally will be able to stand on its feet what with recent drama in the party. There was talk in the inner circle of BJP that Lal Krishna Advani will not be invited for the campaigning in the state. Neither will be Narendra Modi. This puts the onus on Gopinath Mundhe only.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, the new enfant terrible on Maharashtra's political scene is in the eye of discussion over the period. But it is still unclear whether the party will go it alone or will fight the election with others' help. Raj Thackerey, party's chief has made it clear that the party will not field candidates in all constituencies in the state. Besides, in some recent interviews to local newspapers and news channels, he has made it clear that his party will not share power with anyone. “My plan is to assume full power and never until then,” he has said. This effectively takes wind out of MNS' ship. The only thing now the party will achieve is eating in of the votes of Shiv Sena. Since both parties claim to address the same voter base.

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Miraj not as peaceful

Iit was expected that the immersion procession in Miraj would be peaceful. But it was not to be. Today Shiv Sena leader Diwakar Rawate tried to enter Kolhapur city but was forbidden from doing so. According to a release from Neelam Gorhe, Shiv Sena leader, Rawate had gone there to see the situation. District administration arrested him and stopped from entering the district. Gorhe has demanded a high level enquiry into the matter.

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