Uddhav-Raj drop broad hints of tie-up

Mumbai: On a wet Saturday afternoon, the Thackeray kin – Uddhav and Raj – set the Maharashtra politics on fire with clear indications of not merely a tie-up but a long-lasting alliance, rattling the ruling Mahayuti triumvirate of Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party.

The cousins, spewing venom till last month, today came down to warmly addressing each other as ‘maananiya’ (honourables), evoking thundering of applause at the NSCI Dome in Worli.

Belying speculation, it was Thackeray cousins show as they both occupied the dais against the backdrop of a huge pink outline map of Maharashtra and two giant screens on either side, beaming photos of Uddhav-Raj flanking the late Balasaheb Thackeray, not missing the subtlest expressions or words as the dismayed ruling side leaders spit out blistering barnacles at them…

Though the audience comprised activists of Shiv Sena (UBT)-Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, the families of Uddhav and Raj plus Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi allies’ leaders were present though the Congress failed to depute a senior leader for the much-anticipated event.

Others like Nationalist Congress Party (SP) Working President Supriya Sule and General Secretary Dr. Jitendra Awhad, PWP’s Jayant Patil, All India Kisan Sabha’s Dr. Ajit Navale, Rashtriya Samaj Party’s Mahadev Jankar, Communist Party of India’s Prakash Reddy, more than compensated the Congress’ token presence.

Activists of both parties started for the big day from Friday, arriving in droves from around Maharashtra, some seen singing-dancing, some playing drums, en route, making merry to herald the potential ‘coming together’ of the Thackeray cousins.

Fiery Raj, sarcastic Uddhav 

Akin to their respective personality, Raj admittedly put up a fire-brand performance with a double-spicy oratory while Uddhav displayed his usual aggression with sarcastic darts emanating through his speech.

After the Thackerays’ homilies were delivered filling up the audience with sufficient food-for-thought before lunch, the other honourables were individually invited to the stage to meet-and-greet the gathering that almost went into raptures.

Earlier, both Uddhav-Raj encountered each other, smiled and gave warm hugs, arrived on the stage in spotlights with arms around each other’s shoulders, much like ‘Jay-Veeru’, Uddhav bowed before the gathering, there were many light exchanges between them; and ditto was the scenario with their respective sons, cousins and other beaming relatives.

Present were Uddhav Thackeray’s wife Rashmi, Aditya and Tejas, Raj Thackeray’s mom Kunda, uncle Bhai Deshmukh and his family, his wife Sharmila, daughter Urvashi, son Amit, brother-in-law Abhay Deshpande, Unmesh Chavan and above all the cousins’ beloved Chandrakant Vaida, revered as Chandu Mama, with many moments of saying ‘cheese’ before cameras.

MNS General Secretary Vageesh Saraswat said that the event passed off better than expectations from both sides, plus the presence of the family members of the Thackeray cousins conveyed a powerful message to the leaders and workers from both SS (UBT) and MNS.

“We sincerely hope that all this camaraderie doesn’t end up as a mere show for the paparazzi but truly culminates in a meaningful and mutually beneficial tie-up,” an excited Saraswat told ‘The Perfect Voice’.

A senior SS (UBT) leader from Pune had similar sentiments on the outcome of today’s grand ‘melava’ which has given a double-booster to the morale of workers from both parties.

“Nevertheless, the SS (UBT) must tread carefully as the other side can be mercurial at times, plus consider the advantages/disadvantages of a political tie-up which could benefit them more than us,” said the leader, requesting anonymity.

The last time Raj and Uddhav appeared together in public was during the Malvan Assembly by-election campaign in 2005. At that time, the Shiv Sena was still a united entity under the towering presence of Bal Thackeray. The by-poll was necessitated by the resignation of Narayan Rane, a senior Shiv Sena leader and former Maharashtra Chief Minister, who had quit the party following internal disagreements.