Sabre-rattling

Anyone who wondered how Bal Thackeray would take electoral defeat will not be impressed by his sabre-rattling speech at the first public meeting organised by the Shiv Sena since the polls. But it is worth remembering that there is nothing like some theatricals to divert the minds of the faithful. Bal Thackeray knows this well and knows too that he needs to do something about the predominant gloom-and-doom mood in his party. After its failed bid to retain power in Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena8217;s morale will be low. Defeat will be all the harder to stomach because the Congress split came as a godsend and helped the Sena-BJP alliance pick up an unexpected 125 seats. For a fortnight after the results were announced, power seemed tantalizingly within the reach of the Shiv Sena. In the end, however, all the persuasive skills of Bal Thackeray and former chief minister Narayan Rane did not succeed in putting together a simple majority. That is bound to have deepened the disappointment among rank and file. In addition,there will be more than a little apprehension about what the future will bring.

Thackeray8217;s performance consisted of rosy predictions and dire warnings calculated to dispel the gloom, divert attention from the shortcomings of the leadership, keep his party intact and demonstrate he was still in charge. Hence the unrealistic prediction that the Sena would be back in power in a matter of months. It is what his party which has grown used to instant gratification wants to hear. Sena workers would be at a loss if instead of being promised power next month they were asked to take the long view and function like a responsible opposition party. A second tactic was to launch a search for 8220;traitors8221;. One has been identified, more are to be named. The suspense and thrill of the chase ought to distract everyone for weeks. These are internal party affairs and whilst it is a pity that the Shiv Sena has not matured, there is little anyone can do but hope it will grow wiser and learn to act responsibly.

Thackeray8217;s8220;dire warnings8221; to the government is another matter. He seized on a remark by the new Congress chief minister to warn the government not to take action against those held responsible by the Srikrishna commission for the riots of 1991-92 in Mumbai. This is typical Thackeray-speak, testing the limits of propriety and the law. It is what he has been saying and doing in one way or another throughout his career. There is no question but that the new government must take up the Srikrishna report which was tabled in the Assembly a year and a half ago. It has nothing to do with revenge as Thackeray likes to say or making political gains. Justice demands that the guilty of 1991-92 be punished. For obvious reasons, the government headed by the Shiv Sena8217;s Manohar Joshi dodged its responsibility. The Congress-NCP government will be expected to act on the report. It would do well to approach the issue with firmness of purpose and clarity of mind. The Shiv Sena may refuse to accept the electoral fact that the people ofMaharashtra want law and order to be restored at all levels. The Congress-NCP would be foolish not to understand what voters have said.