Video Producer: Anubhav Mishra
Video Editor: Purnendu Pritam
Apart from BJP, Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP, Maharashtra politics has one public figure loved by TV and social media alike – MNS Chief Raj Thackeray.
Right now, his primary enemy is PM Modi. Rest assured, after PM Modi and Rahul Gandhi, Raj Thackeray is the most popular leader (in Maharashtra).
A Modi-Fan in 2014, Why Has Raj Thackeray Become Modi’s Harshest Critic in 2019?
Raj Thackeray’s politics has taken a 360-degree turn in the past five years. His campaign has gone from ‘Modi yukt Bharat’ (an India under Modi) to ‘Modi mukt Bharat’ (an India without Modi). He understands very well that the harsher he is with PM Modi, the more mileage he will gain, and that TV and social media will help spread his message far and wide.
Thackeray on the Front Foot
Thackeray clearly understands that he has nothing to lose, hence he has come out all guns blazing. He may not be fielding candidates in 2019 Lok Sabha elections but his attacks on PM Modi are harsher than NCP and Congress. Raj Thackeray will try to take advantage of this because he knows that if he targets PM Modi and Amit Shah then it will only increase the visibility of his party and him.
Why Did Thackeray Not Contest the Lok Sabha Elections?
In 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance had won 42 seats out of 48 – a feat they would want to repeat in 2019 as well. But Raj Thackeray understands that Maharashtra will play a crucial role in the upcoming elections.
Maharashtra is the second biggest state after Uttar Pradesh with 48 constituencies. Hence, if MNS fields candidates, then it may lead to division of votes which will ultimately benefit the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance. Therefore, quite strategically Thackeray has decided to not fight the polls. He knows it would have been difficult for his party to win a seat in the Lok Sabha elections. Hence, if he doesn’t field a candidate and his votes are transferred to the Congress-NCP alliance, then it will get tougher for the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance.
But What is Raj Thackeray Eyeing?
Raj Thackeray has an image of a fire-brand politician and his speeches are liked by younger sections of society. He plans to use this to his advantage by conducting public meetings across Maharashtra. But he won’t be sharing the stage with NCP or Congress.
He will continue to have meetings in regions like Mumbai, Pune, Nashik and Thane – all of which are typically MNS strongholds. It is understood that during the Assembly elections of the state, NCP-Congress will return the favour.
The Ground Impact of Thackeray’s Plan?
MNS voters usually follow the Hindutva ideology and rarely side with secular parties. Apart from Maratha identity, this was an important reason why Congress was opposed to MNS joining the Mahagathbandhan. However, even when Raj Thackerey is attacking the BJP, his silence on Shiv Sena raises multiple questions. Raj Thackeray stays in Dadar, which falls under South-Central Mumbai. On this seat, Shiv Sena is in direct contest with Congress. Similar contests can be seen in Mumbai, Thane and Nashik. If Raj Thackeray does not clarify his stance on these seats, then MNS voters can be divided. This could jeopardise Raj Thackeray’s plan to remove PM Modi and Amit Shah from national politics.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)