Of the same stripe

The Shiv Sena8217;s troubles can be easily traced to its decision-making structure and its agenda. All power emanates from Bal Thackeray, and in all these years8212;even through its full term in power in the 8217;90s8212;no processes of democracy have been harnessed to allow transparency or accountability. Men with ambitions larger than the place scoped out for them by Thackeray have no option but to quit. In addition, the Sena has refused to grow beyond its narrow identity politics to be in a position to embrace the issues of governance that must engage a leading opposition party. The isolation of founder and his appointed heir was inevitable. Raj8217;s antics have only accentuated it.

But if the Sena is withering, Sena-ism is flourishing. The NCP has strengthened its claim to being Maharashtra8217;s leading regional party by taking on board the Sena8217;s hyper-Maratha nationalism8212;as was seen in the rampage at Pune8217;s Bhandarkar institute. The Congress, trying desperately to keep pace, is simply poaching on the Sena and wooing its discontents. Here8217;s the rub. Nirupam and Rane come with a legacy of intolerance. By allowing them to speak on the Congress8217;s behalf so blithely8212;and to even court Raj8212; the party is absorbing the Sena minus the Tiger. All of Maharashtra8217;s polity will have to bear the brunt of those stripes.