- Close observers of the political churning in the Indian context were in anticipation of what will be the eventual outcome in Maharashtra’s Sena politics. As you are aware, the Shiv Sena split into two represented by the warring factions of Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde laying claim to be the original Shiv Sainiks. We know how the Maha Vikas Agadi (MVA) coalition government was toppled by the Eknath Shinde led rebellion that joined hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party to form the government. Now, the fight to lay hands on the Shiv Sena party and the symbol was being played out by the two factions reaching the offices of the Election Commission of India. The protracted battle has come to a halt for now with the EC announcing the decision recently.
PC: Freepik
- Undoubtedly, the EC’s decision to recognise the faction led by Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde as the real Shiv Sena gives an edge to that camp. Nonetheless, the Sena wars are far from over as the other faction is bound to not go without offering a protracted fight to claim the legacy. Of course, the EC relied on the test of the majority to find in favour of the Shinde faction. However, it is a given fact that both the Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray factions will continue to battle over the legacy of Bal Thackeray as well as for control of the Sena shakhas – the organizational backbone of the party. Note that the EC’s ruling has no bearing on the ownership of the party headquarters, Shiv Sena Bhavan, or the shakas.
- Why? Simply because these shakhas are mostly owned by shakha pramukhs, local leaders, and trusts. For example, Shiv Sena Bhavan is owned by Shivai Trust and not the party itself. This sets the ground for a bitter, prolonged tussle between the two factions. True, if shakhas and shakha pramukhs voluntarily move to the Shinde camp, the transition will be smooth. After all, with the party name and symbol gone, many Shiv Sainiks are likely to calculate that their political future no longer lies with the Uddhav camp. But staunch Uddhav supporters will continue to pose a challenge for Shinde as highlighted by the skirmishes between the two camps in Dapoli, Ratnagiri, over control of a local shakha. It will only get murkier in the days ahead.
PC: Freepik
- On its part, the Shinde camp is now indicating that it won’t try to take over Shiv Sena Bhavan offering an insight as to how Uddhav continues to hold some good cards. Additionally, there is also the matter of control over Sena’s worker groups and unions that form a critical pillar of the party’s political clout and financial muscle. A bitter feud over these could even lead to serious law and order situations in Maharashtra. The obvious outcome is the party is unlikely to regain its former clout in Maharashtra politics as both factions are slated to play second fiddle to NCP or BJP in the foreseeable future. This is a tale of ambitions, nepotism, and family politics ruining an established political party that failed to raise above the petty parochial considerations. Sad.
