Muslims get that ‘sinking feeling, again’

Mumbai: Soon after sworn political adversaries Uddhav Thackeray of the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray publicly embraced reconciliation, a familiar sense of unease spread among Maharashtra’s Muslims and other minorities.

For many, the reunion of the cousins after 20 years of separation was less about Marathi unity and more about political expediency, plus a grim reminder of how minority expectations remain expedient for self-serving politicians or parties all over.

Admittedly, sections of Muslims had begun to accept Uddhav Thackeray during his tenure as the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) Chief Minister, but are now a tad unsettled by the sudden political realignment.

Uddhav’s mild and all-inclusive governance as a ‘father figure’, perceived outreach and resistance to overt communal rhetoric had earned him cautious goodwill during the Covid-19 Pandemic days, but the rapprochement with Raj Thackeray - whose political style abhors many - raise fresh doubts.

Let Down

Of Maharashtra’s estimated 1.75 crore Muslims, a few voices sounded helpless more than outraged, with many feeling ‘let down’ and their expectations from a perceived ‘Messiah’ again dashed owing to political compulsions.

Marathi Muslim Seva Sangh (MMSS) President Faquir M. Thakur summed up the mood candidly. “We have not adopted any official stand yet. But there is no question of extending blanket support to any party. We are likely to remain neutral,” he said.

Thakur spoke wistfully of a deeper realisation within the community - that when Muslims and minorities face crises, meaningful political support is often lacking from those they trusted. This has led to more pragmatic voting decisions, influenced by candidates or parties committed to take principled positions on issues directly affecting the community.

On the concerns of increased social polarisation, Thakur said: “Society has become sharply divided along caste-communal lines. Yet many now feel that if the BJP were to abandon its hardline anti-Muslim posture, nobody will mind if it rules for a hundred years.”

Ideological Distortions 

Maulana Mohammad Burhanuddin Qasmi, Director of Markazul Ma’arif Education Research Centre, said that ideological commitment has virtually vanished from Indian politics. “Most parties and leaders today are neither genuinely Right nor Left. They are mere opportunists driven purely by self-interest,” he said.

In this context, he said that the MNS is no exception. After 2014, ideological distortions have only deepened, with frequent party-hopping becoming normalised, especially among smaller parties and their leaders.

Survival Tactic

Social activist Feroze Mithiborwala feels that Uddhav Thackeray had little choice but to align with Raj Thackeray to ensure consolidation of the Marathi votes, especially in Mumbai.

“The rival Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) is growing stronger, armed with money and institutional power, which poses a direct existential threat to the SS (UBT). So, the tie-up (with MNS) is a survival tactic,” he explained.

Expectedly, the new alliance rattled the Congress - given Raj Thackeray’s perceived hostility towards North Indians and Gujaratis - and it decided to go solo in Mumbai given its own unique support base, said Mithiborwala.

Power Politics 

Tasneem Shaikh, a retired private-sector executive, was more blunt. She described the development as “ruthless power politics” devoid of ideological sincerity. “All parties, especially those in power, are obsessed with winning seats and controlling institutions - for advantage and survival,” she said.

Questioning their power-centric intentions, Shaikh asked: “Who is genuinely addressing inflation, unemployment, education, law and order, or public amenities? These issues affect everyone, including minorities, yet they rarely dominate political discourse.”

Citing the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, Thakur claimed that Muslims were again reduced to a vote-bank by parties across the spectrum, and “after securing our votes, those parties dwelt on their own selfish agendas, not the national interest”.

Maulana Qasmi predicts that the hand-shake between Thackeray cousins will primarily serve their mutual political interests, and Muslims are unlikely to view this alliance any differently when they exercise their franchise next month.

Though SS(UBT) banks heavily on the traditional Marathi support, it has also cultivated a growing minority voter base, but ultimately voters may select local candidates ready to champion minority concerns over political alliances, pointed out Mithiborwala.

In such a discouraging scenario, Shaikh feels minorities may be swayed only by candidates with integrity, accessibility, and a record of serving people without discrimination will matter more than party labels.

For a large chunk of Muslims, the Thackeray cousins’ reunion has rekindled that dreaded ‘sinking feeling’ with alliances shifting in the political quicksand - while the desperate minorities keep their fingers crossed for a helping hand.