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By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

The Unequal Cousins

Raj Thackeray’s ‘sacrifice’ saved Shiv Sena (UBT) but sank the MNS Mumbai: In the volatile theatre of Maharashtra politics, the long-awaited reunion of the Thackeray cousins on the campaign trail was supposed to be the masterstroke that reclaimed Mumbai. The results of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, however, tell a story of tragic asymmetry. While the alliance has successfully helped the Shiv Sena (UBT) stem the saffron tide and regain lost ground, it has left Raj...

The Unequal Cousins

Raj Thackeray’s ‘sacrifice’ saved Shiv Sena (UBT) but sank the MNS Mumbai: In the volatile theatre of Maharashtra politics, the long-awaited reunion of the Thackeray cousins on the campaign trail was supposed to be the masterstroke that reclaimed Mumbai. The results of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, however, tell a story of tragic asymmetry. While the alliance has successfully helped the Shiv Sena (UBT) stem the saffron tide and regain lost ground, it has left Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) staring at an existential crisis. The final tally reveals a brutal reality for the MNS - Raj Thackeray played the role of the savior for his cousin, but in the process, he may have become the sole loser of the 2026 mandate. The worse part is that the Shiv Sena (UBT) is reluctant to accept this and is blaming Raj for the poor performance of his party leading to the defeat. A granular analysis of the ward-wise voting patterns exposes the fundamental flaw in this tactical alliance. The vote transfer, the holy grail of any coalition, operated strictly on a one-way street. Data suggests that the traditional MNS voter—often young, aggressive, and driven by regional pride—heeded Raj Thackeray’s call and transferred their votes to Shiv Sena (UBT) candidates in wards where the MNS did not contest. This consolidation was critical in helping the UBT hold its fortresses against the BJP's "Infra Man" juggernaut. However, the favor was not returned. In seats allocated to the MNS, the traditional Shiv Sena (UBT) voter appeared hesitant to back the "Engine" (MNS symbol). Whether due to lingering historical bitterness or a lack of instructions from the local UBT leadership, the "Torch" (UBT symbol) voters did not gravitate toward Raj’s candidates. The result? The UBT survived, while the MNS candidates were left stranded. ‘Second Fiddle’ Perhaps the most poignant aspect of this election was the shift in the personal dynamic between the Thackeray brothers. Decades ago, they parted ways over a bitter dispute regarding who would control the party helm. Raj, refusing to work under Uddhav, formed the MNS to chart his own path. Yet, in 2026, the wheel seems to have come full circle. By agreeing to contest a considerably lower number of seats and focusing his energy on the broader alliance narrative, Raj Thackeray tacitly accepted the role of "second fiddle." It was a pragmatic gamble to save the "Thackeray" brand from total erasure by the BJP-Shinde combine. While the brand survived, it is Uddhav who holds the equity, while Raj has been left with the debt. Charisma as a Charity Throughout the campaign, Raj Thackeray’s rallies were, as always, electric. His fiery oratory and charismatic presence drew massive crowds, a sharp contrast to the more somber tone of the UBT leadership. Ironically, this charisma served as a force multiplier not for his own party, but for his cousin’s. Raj acted as the star campaigner who energised the anti-BJP vote bank. He successfully articulated the anger against the "Delhi-centric" politics he accuses the BJP of fostering. But when the dust settled, the seats were won by UBT candidates who rode the wave Raj helped create. The MNS chief provided the wind for the sails, but the ship that docked in the BMC was captained by Uddhav. ‘Marathi Asmita’ Stung by the results and the realisation of the unequal exchange, Raj Thackeray took to social media shortly after the counting concluded. In an emotive post, he avoided blaming the alliance partner but instead pivoted back to his ideological roots. Urging his followers to "stick to the issue of Marathi Manoos and Marathi Asmita (pride)," Raj signaled a retreat to the core identity politics that birthed the MNS. It was a somber appeal, stripped of the bravado of the campaign, hinting at a leader who knows he must now rebuild from the rubble. The 2026 BMC election will be remembered as the moment Raj Thackeray proved he could be a kingmaker, even if it meant crowning the rival he once despised. He provided the timely help that allowed the Shiv Sena (UBT) to live to fight another day. But in the ruthless arithmetic of democracy, where moral victories count for little, the MNS stands isolated—a party that gave everything to the alliance and received nothing in return. Ironically, there are people within the UBT who still don’t want to accept this and on the contrary blame Raj Thackeray for dismal performance of the MNS, which they argue, derailed the UBT arithmetic. They state that had the MNS performed any better, the results would have been much better for the UBT.

Ready for home composting now?

Updated: Feb 3, 2025

home composting

From my last week’s article, you must have understood what to expect while your compost is on the way to maturity or already matured. So certain animal species and plant species are going to be a part of your compost ecosystem. These living beings are essential for making a good quality compost. While the kind of insects, fungi etc. mentioned in that article are your ‘compost companions’, there are creatures like cockroaches, mosquitoes, ants, large blue-coloured flies, common house flies etc. which you would never observe hovering on or sitting right on your compost in the compost bin.


We know that, generally, these animals get attracted to filthy, rotting eatables and similar items in the garbage. My own experience is that since past 12 years I have not seen a single cockroach or mosquito or house fly getting attracted to my home compost bin which I have kept in my bedroom window. All these animals can be considered as the indicators of the ‘health’ that is the quality of your compost.


If you see cockroaches or mosquitoes or even the house flies in your compost bin, then something is terribly wrong with the compost process. Probably, those ‘compost companions’ are not getting conducive environment for their normal action. This could be due to extreme changes in the pH, temperature, moisture content etc.


These can be corrected by adding appropriate raw materials as described earlier. You won’t see the earthworms either. Though these animals are extremely useful and helpful in composting, it is generally not advisable to use them or introduce them in home composting. If you are planning to do composting at the society or community level, then using earthworms is highly beneficial for large scale production of compost. The technique of Vermicomposting if somewhat different than biocomposting. I will provide detail information on vermicomposting sometime later.


Now I hope that you have made up your mind and have decided to start biocomposting at your home. But then you might start thinking like where can I get the required material, who will guide me through for setting up such home unit for bio composting, how much it will cost? etc.


In the city of Thane and around, there are many NGOs and individuals who can provide the relevant guidance. Paryavaran Dakshata Mandal (Enviro-Vigil) is one such NGO working in Thane, Dombivali, Kalyan, Titwala, Murbad etc. for the past 25 years. Its objective has always been environmental education, research & awareness creation among the masses for clean, healthy and hygienic environments and has been striving to do so since its inception in 1999.


This organization is working with a vision to build a strong and self-sustained organization working for the cause of Environment and with a mission to empower today’s youth to accept challenges of changing world in tune with sustainable development. It is working with various schools and colleges in Thane and surrounding areas. It provides consultancy to the educational institutions, housing societies regarding the overall management of biodiversity, waste management, water and energy management etc. In my next article, I will elaborate more upon the work done by this organization in waste management at the household level and community level.


Till then have a good weekend!


(The author is an environmentalist. Views personal.)

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