PM used Thackeray as pretext, it won’t help: Raj Thackeray

Raj Thackeray discusses the Shiv Sena-BJP and Congress-NCP splits, the MNS roadmap, and Narendra Modi.

Warning against any such move, he said, “Nobody should dare to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra, or else 10 crore Marathi people — of the total 11.40 crore population in the state — will not hesitate to take to the streets.”

Raj Thackeray, the MNS president, discusses the Shiv Sena-BJP and Congress-NCP splits, the MNS roadmap, and Narendra Modi. Is it true that Uddhav Thackeray called you soon after the split with the BJP?

Yes. I got a call from Uddhav Thackeray asking about my health. I told him I had a fever, but it was nothing to worry about. What’s so important about it? When Uddhav was unwell and in hospital, I was by his side.

Why didn’t the Sena and MNS forge an alliance?
Uddhav and I did not talk politics. Moreover, the question did not arise as the Sena was in alliance with the BJP until September 24. A new alliance cannot be formed overnight; it has to be worked out in advance. Again, why should I make myself available to the Sena when it wants? Had the Sena-BJP alliance been intact, the MNS would have been their target. I believe in Ekla Chalo Re.

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What is your view of the split between the BJP and the Sena?
It was obvious from the beginning that the BJP was going to break the alliance. And if someone couldn’t sense that, they should not be in politics. After the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP was determined to go it alone. For both the BJP and the NCP, it was a well-planned decision. Sharad Pawar had called a senior BJP leader assuring him that if you split, I will take the decision within half an hour. After the Sena and the BJP split, the Congress and the NCP split within 30 minutes.

How do you explain Narendra Modi’s public statement that he will not attack the Shiv Sena as a tribute to Bal Thackeray?

The prime minister used Bal Thackeray as a pretext to explain why they don’t want to attack the Shiv Sena. I don’t think it is going to help them to win support from Sainiks or the people.

Will the split work to Uddhav’s advantage?
After the split, he should have taken a hard posture. After I criticised the BJP for betraying the alliance, Uddhav declared that they would withdraw from the NDA. But the next day he changed the stand. What message are they sending to the people? They are fighting each other in elections, but are in alliance in the BMC (Mumbai’s municipal corporation) and the NDA.

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Why is your campaign BJP-centric?
Not at all. I attacked the BJP’s claims of seeking an absolute majority when they have 53 candidates imported from the Congress, the NCP, the Sena or the MNS. It makes one wonder how they can even talk of a majority.

Do you feel ineffective in a five-party contest?
I am confident of doing much better. I don’t want to make a prediction. These polls are very complicated and confusing. In Marathi it is said, “Brahmadevacha dokyacha palikade ahe (Even Brahmadev cannot say with certainty)”.

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