Shiv Sena-MNS reunion: Raj Thackeray does not deny the possibility

In an interview with The Times of India, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) supremo Raj Thackeray opens up on how he feels about Shiv Sena-MNS reunion, coalition governments in the country and Prime Minister Narendra Modi campaigning for the state assembly polls.

In a candid conversation, the MNS supremo starts with answer the most discussed question in the media today. Will Shiv Sena and MNS join hands in Maharashtra putting an end to a very long rivalry. Raj Thackeray keeps a stoic calm and does not deny that there could be a possible alliance between the brothers in the future. When the author asks him that he is not denying the possibility of a probable reunion, the estranged Thackeray says: “Too early to say anything.” [caption id=“attachment_1749805” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  MNS supremo Raj Thackeray. Reuters[/caption] Both the brothers have recently sent out feelers in the media which gave rise to a lot of talk about the two parties joining hands during the Maharashtra assembly elections.  According to a report in the DNA, Raj Thackeray was recently quoted as saying that there was a possibility of Sena-MNS alliance right after it broke ties with the BJP but it fizzled out as Uddhav Thackeray did not show any interest. Raj Thackeray has been attacking BJP with the same fervour as Uddhav. In fact, Raj claimed in one of his rallies that the BJP and NCP had an understanding and the break up with the Shiv Sena and Congress was part of a well-scripted plan. The 2014 Maharashtra Assembly election blew wide open with two major political splits - Shiv Sena-BJP and Congress-NCP. But we also know that political break-ups are not forever. Will the national parties feel the need to get back to their old alliances once voting is over? Voters should not be taken for a ride, MNS chief says bluntly. According to Thackeray, coalition government is a farce in today’s world. He told TOI that he expects absolute majority and wants the voters to invest in the party whole-heartedly. Not a fan of coalition governments, Thackeray gave instances of states - West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan - which have single-party regime and said that voters wanted Maharashtra could be added to that list too. Lot of anger was directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Thackeray’s interview. Thackeray said he could not fathom the fact that a prime minister of a country would abandon his regular duties and campaign for his party for the upcoming elections. When asked why is he targeting the prime minister, whom Raj Thackeray favoured until very recently, the MNS chief bluntly added that Modi has been asking for it.

“He is campaigning for his party at the cost of the exchequer. I am sure the Government of India provides the PM with every facility when he is on tour. On the other hand, the Election Commission asks every candidate to submit expenses, even for a water bottle.”

The MNS chief has been recently focusing on the prime minister and attacked him for playing divisive politics. The Hindu in an article noted how from being an ardent Modi fan, Raj Thackeray did a complete U-turn and asked Modi whether he was the prime minister of India or Gujarat. Even in the interview with TOI, Thackeray said how the PM has been “overdoing the Gujarat bit”. Thackeray cleared his stance and said that he was totally in favour of Modi  being made the prime minister of the country but singing a Gujarat tune is very unbecoming for a leader of a country, Thackeray said. The sudden attacks on Modi could not have been coincidental and especially ever since the bitter break-up with Shiv Sena. In an earlier article on _Firstpost_, the author talks of how Uddhav and Raj are taking potshots at Narendra Modi in a chorus. Raj Thackeray even went on to criticise the national party for breaking ties with Sena. The post quoted Thackeray as saying:

“Do you think that the BJP can now be trusted after what they did to the Shiv Sena? Some BJP leader told me that they had planned the break-up long ago. Did Uddhav not understand this? If Balasaheb would have been alive today, he would have broken the alliance a month ago itself." 

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Political affiliations in this country are as fickle as the weather but it is definitely a little more than coincidence that the Thackeray brothers are attacking BJP and the prime minister in unison. Concluding the interview, MNS chief sounded extremely confident of his chances during the polls which is scheduled to begin from the 15 October. When asked whether MNS benefited from the political splits, Raj asserted that he doesn’t care about profit or loss.

“I am going solo and I am happy. Both alliances were worried only about their shares of seats. They had nothing to do with farmers’ suicides, with the irrigation scandal or with price rise.”