Mumbai: The recent developments in the Congress has made Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray stronger in the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA).
Thackeray was looking on a sticky wicket before the Assembly elections were announced. However, the Congress has given him a lot of strength by removing its state unit president Nana Patole as the party’s chief negotiator to discuss seat sharing within the MVA.
Patole had taken a firm stand that the Congress should not leave 12 seats for the Shiv Sena (UBT) in Vidarbha region, his home turf, as demanded by Thackeray. Patole was of the opinion that Thackeray’s party did not deserve more than eight seats in the region.
Patole made his thoughts public leading to uneasiness in Thackeray’s party. It resulted in Thackeray issuing a warning to the Congress against the highhandedness. As a responsible official Patole’s stand was correct in the interest of the Congress. However, his bosses in the party sidelined him as chief negotiator and appointed a lenient Balasabeb Thorat as his replacement.
The Congress’ act has underpinned that Thackeray would remain the biggest influencer in the MVA.
The Congress has many leaders at the top but none having a statewide popularity or recognition. Their decision making is invariably through high command in Delhi necessitating approval of Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi. In contrast Shiv Sena (UBT) decisions are instantaneous in line with their party culture prevailing right from its conception, which is, at times, appreciated by masses. Hence even Uddhav’s demand of declaring himself as CM- face is unrealistic, Congress is finding it difficult to reject it outright.
Congress is compelled to soft-peddle the issue since if threats of Sena-UBT going alone actually materialis, the biggest loser will be Congress. The party is aware that emerging as the largest group of MPs in Maharashtra in recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, would not have been possible without getting share of Shiv Sena (UBT) voters. Hence to regain the foothold in Maharashtra, Congress needs Shiv Sena (UBT) alliance to continue to milk the benefit.
Nana Patole may have many opponents in the state Congress but even his big critics admit that he has given wings to the party in Vidarbha. Patole is in the best position to judge the situation in the region. His image of an aggressive OBC face of the party would have helped the party in the Kunbi dominated region that has 64 seats.
However, the Congress is just struggling to contain Thackeray’s unilateral decisions if not threats, potentially dwindling Congress’s prospects.
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