The Vision and Support of Raj Thackeray in Maharashtra: An Analysis
A very good question indeed. Raj Thackeray is a charismatic leader with levels of confidence and oratory skills that surpass those of his brother, Uddhav Thackeray, even though Raj Thackeray does not occupy any significant political positions. Under Uddhav Thackeray, oratory skills and confidence have indeed improved, but they still fall short in comparison to Raj Thackeray's.
Shiv Sena was founded in 1966, and Hindutva was not its primary agenda. In fact, the party fought against migrants from Karnataka, UP, and other states, many of whom were Hindus themselves. The ideology of the party was pro-Marathi, which gradually evolved into a pro-Hindutva stance by the 1970s, a trend that continues to this day.
So, the vision that Bala Saheb envisioned was pro-Marathi in the 1960s and pro-Hindutva by the 1970s. Some believe that after the formation of the MVA ( VidnyanAmritakar), the party has become secular. However, this is not the case.
Why Raj Thackeray Did Not Join Existing Parties
When Raj Thackeray split from Shiv Sena in 2005-06, he faced several options. He could have possibly joined the NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) led by his family friend, Sharad Pawar, to become an MP in Rajya Sabha. Becoming an MLC (Member of Legislative Council) or just a minister was too small a position for Raj Thackeray, and he would not have participated in an election himself. Joining the INC (Indian National Congress) was not an option due to ideological differences. The BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) was in an alliance with Shiv Sena, and Raj Thackeray would have been unlikely to join them. Moreover, retiring from politics was also not a viable option, as staying with Shiv Sena would have been more beneficial for him.
The only feasible option was to introduce his own party. He had a scattered but strong fan base, with many Shiv Sena members even calling themselves 'Raj Samarthak' (Raj followers) long before the split.
Maharashtra Navanirman Sena (MNS): A Party with a Vision
When the Maharashtra Navanirman Sena (MNS) was formed, the question of ideology was always at the forefront. What could have been the motto of the party: Hindutva or Son of the Soil? Since Maharashtra and India had a sleeping giant in the BJP, a well-read person like Raj Thackeray would have seen strategic opportunities in this party. While Shiv Sena was already pro-Hindutva in Maharashtra, there seemed to be an opening for a pro-Marathi ideology, which was not yet the driving force for Shiv Sena. This led to MNS being more closely associated with a pro-Marathi ideology than following Bala Saheb Thackeray's path.
Mr. Raj Thackeray would not have shared Bala Saheb's vision if he remained in Shiv Sena, possibly taking the second position and being an active part of the current government.
Opportunistic Politics and MNS
Another example of Mr. Raj Thackeray's opportunistic attitude can be seen in 2019 when the MVA (Maharashtra Vikash Aaj',a) was formed with Shiv Sena allying with two secular parties. This alliance was strategic and opportunistic, as they realized that the pre-poll promises made by the BJP were broken. Raj Thackeray took advantage of this non-existent gap by becoming pro-Hindutva and pro-Marathi, channeling MNS as a B-Team to Shiv Sena. This change in ideology was not due to a significant shift in values but rather to political convenience.
MNS adopted a more complicated flag featuring the Raj Mudra of Ch. Shivaji Maharaj, symbolizing Marathi identity. This move was complex and required careful handling, especially during MNS rallies where the flag was sometimes left disrespected. MNS's stance on migrant laborers, mainly Hindus from UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Chattisgarh, further complicates their claim to pro-Hindutva, illustrating the challenges of opportunistic politics.
Conclusion and Future Outlook
There is no shared vision here, merely the exploitation of political opportunities. Raj Thackeray's split from Shiv Sena, though it gained initial success, has ultimately damaged the pro-Marathi cause. One of MNS's best performances came in 2009 with 13 legislators in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, despite this, they did not achieve much, and their success in the 2012 Nashik Municipal Corporation elections was short-lived.
Given the current scenario where opposition parties across India are coming together, Raj Saheb should reconsider his strategy and identify his real opponents. If the sole motive is to split Shiv Sena's votes, he does not deserve that one chance. Instead, Raj Saheb should focus on building a robust, collaborative, and purpose-driven party that can effectively represent his ideals.