Gloves are off as Uddhav Thackeray, Devendra Fadnavis take on each other over a Thane attack

Since the Shiv Sena split in June 2022, Maharashtra has witnessed several ugly spats, both at personal and party levels, as members of the Sena factions led by Uddhav and Eknath Shinde fight over territorial rights. Despite being seen as the mastermind of the Sena split, the BJP, though, remained a silent spectator.

Even when Uddhav’s Sena directed barbs at the BJP and Fadnavis, especially over action by Central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Income Tax (IT) department, or the CBI, the BJP chose to stay quiet.

From the MVA side, the NCP led in the Assembly by Ajit Pawar of the NCP was seen as focusing more of its attack on CM Shinde than his Deputy.

But now, Uddhav has dragged Fadnavis into a street fight, dismissing him as a failure as Home Minister.

Stung by the criticism, Fadnavis retaliated at a public rally on home turn Nagpur. “I’m not fadtus (useless), but kartoos (cartridge),” he said, copying a hit film dialogue to add: “Main jhukega nahin sala. Ghus ke marega (I won’t bend, but I’ll enter your stronghold and beat you).”

Ever since Uddhav’s attack, the BJP has rallied around Fadnavis. State BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule said, “Uddhav Thackeray’s rumblings are an outcome of political frustration. Having failed to keep his own house in order, he is directing his anger against the ruling parties.” The BJP never endorses any violence or attack against any individual or party worker, he said.

But, here’s the rub. As a BJP leader acknowledged, on one aspect of the attack on the worker, Uddhav had touched a raw nerve by saying that Shinde was outmanoeuvring Fadnavis in his home district of Thane. “Fadnavis has to walk a tightrope — balancing power equations to keep their coalition intact, while also delivering results as the Home Minister.”

The Deputy CM is also facing Court heat over “hate speeches” made during Hindu Jan Akrosh rallies organised under the banner of Sakal Hindu Samaj across the state.

As state NCP chief Jayant Patil asked, “In Thane, the police take orders from the CM. If politics takes precedence, how can they deliver justice?” The state’s ruling parties have also been seen conspicuously participating in the Sakal Hindu Samaj rallies, he said.

Meanwhile, Uddhav is using the opportunity provided by the attack on his worker to portray himself as a leader who guides from the front. “Just because (my) Sainiks are silent doesn’t mean they can’t retaliate. If the state administration and police fail to act, we’ll show everyone what we can do,” he has said.