Party at sundown

AT a recent meeting in a Bandra auditorium, as Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray addressed party MLAs, slogans filled the air. And no, they were...

AT a recent meeting in a Bandra auditorium, as Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray addressed party MLAs, slogans filled the air. And no, they were not the familiar ones in praise of Thackeray. For the first time in his entire career perhaps, Bal Thackeray looked on as the Sainiks before him emerged as two distinct groups: one hailing former chief minister and current dissenter Narayan Rane, the other cheering Uddhav Thackeray, the son and heir apparent.

It was a clear indication, if any was needed, that the patriarch was losing hold over a party he had ruled with an iron hand. Thackeray, who has always accused the Nehru family of dynastic politics, now finds himself facing similar charges, that too, from his own trusted men.

For long, Thackeray ran the party like a private firm. He8217;s often said his word was final in the party. Not that it has gone unchallenged in the past. Bandu Shingre, Hemchandra Gupte, Datta Pradhan, Chhagan Bhujbal, Sanjay Nirupam, Suresh Prabhu, Ganesh Naik, all left. But the party survived their departures. This is the first time that party legislators have teamed up to challenge Thackeray8217;s son.

Politically though, Rane8217;s influence is largely confined to Konkan and parts of Mumbai. He is being wooed by the NCP and the Congress, and if he is to be believed8212;even the BJP. It is not clear whether he will join another party or float his own. But his exit has certainly made the Shiv Sena sit up and take note.

THE current crisis has come at a time when the party8217;s position has not been too steady. An ageing and increasingly ill Thackeray has largely been confined to his home. Son Uddhav, who was appointed executive president of the party two years ago, has been the cause of much envy and bitterness. Thackeray8217;s nephew Raj, who many sainiks saw as a more deserving inheritor of the Thackeray legacy than Uddhav, has now being called 8216;8216;co-sufferer8217;8217; by Rane and others.

Then there were the electoral setbacks. The Sena failed to win power in the last assembly elections in 2004. The NCP is growing in the state at the cost of the Congress and has made significant inroads into Sena bastions like Rane8217;s Konkan region. Konkan, incidentally, has 31 MLAs, of which the Sena has 12 and the NCP, which is wooing Rane, nine. Moreover, NCP chief Sharad Pawar has cold-shouldered Thackeray8217;s overtures a second time. Elections to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation are due in another 18 months and the Sena must consolidate its position soon.

The revolt by Rane has jolted the party which was once a monolith controlled by the Boss. Since Rane is close to Raj, his breaking away can have larger repercussions. After quitting the party last Sunday, Rane drew a parallel between his fate and Raj8217;s. 8216;8216;Both of us have suffered,8217;8217; he said, pointing out that Raj8217;s hoardings were also removed from the streets recently by partymen close to Uddhav.

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RANE8217;S departure is sure to hit the Sena in Konkan. After all, it was under him that the Sena spread its roots in the region. Joining the party 39 years ago, Rane became a corporator in 1985 and a MLA in 1990. Five years later when the Sena-BJP alliance took power in the state, he became minister and then finally chief minister for just about six months. The Sena-BJP ruling alliance in the state decided to advance elections, rather presumptuously, by six months. The Congress-NCP wrested power, retaining it in the next elections in 2004 as well.

Not only was Rane bereft of power, since 2003 he8217;s also had to take orders from Uddhav, who was appointed executive president. Rane8217;s complaints against Uddhav range from the personal to the professional. He says when his house was set ablaze by some miscreants aided by the NCP at Kankavli two years ago, some sainiks rushed to help him from Mumbai. Uddhav, he says, called them back. That was the beginning of their falling out. And Rane8217;s anger against Uddhav has found much support.

THE Sena is now trying some damage control. It has managed to retain its hold in the local municipal corporation, which is evident from the fact that 100 out of the 101 corporators attended a meeting called by Thackeray, in a show of solidarity. The number of MLAs supporting the party has gone up from 41 to 52 in just two days, indicating the success of the party leadership in isolating Rane. The Sena has 63 members in the assembly.

However, since the BJP has 54 members in the assembly, the leader of the opposition8217;s post held by Sena would now go to the BJP. Rane may not have been successful in demolishing the Sena altogether, but the Sena will never be the same again.

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An immediate indicator came from Uddhav8217;s reaction. After the meeting of MLAs at Rang Sharda auditorium on Monday, he apologised for any mistake he may have committed and asked the legislators for their advice. Now, if only he had sought it earlier.