Goals in mind, Raj in no hurry to do a Rane

Though winning over a good number of Shiv Sena legislators or functionaries was important, it was not the soul of Raj’s script for his future, another close aide said. ‘‘Splitting the Sena or taking it on in electoral battles, thereby strengthening the Congress, could be Narayan Rane’s gameplan. But Raj, being a Thackeray, has to look at the whole picture from a different perspective,’’ he added.

Opposing the Sena suited Rane well, but Raj ‘‘needs to draw a bigger picture before the Maharashtrian people that would help him get maximum support from the Sena grass-roots,’’ another supporter said.

That’s why Raj, he said, had not been as shrill and monotonous as Rane in his criticism of Uddhav Thackeray. Even during his statewide tour beginning January 16, Raj won’t be holding public meetings, making speeches, criticising Uddhav, and indulging in show of strength, all which Rane did during his Maharashtra tour.

Instead, Raj’s tour was going to be a much serious exercise with emphasis on social service instead of election-based politics, preparedness for a sustained struggle to establish a niche identity in Maharashtra, and reaching out to the thinking class that has insulated itself from the socio-political realities.

What is deterring Raj from looking at short-term political gains is the present socio-political situation in Maharashtra. ‘‘To a great extent, the Sena itself has lost its relevance in the socio-political scheme. What will Raj gain if just floats a parallel Sena with out-and-out political goals?’’ asked a Marathi author who is close to Raj.

A cartoonist and music connoisseur himself, Raj is well-connected to the literary and cultural corridors of Maharashtra. This association has helped him understand the different crises facing the Maharashtrian community today, his supporters say, a factor that would keep him in good stead as he goes about the task of establishing himself in a new avatar.