Bal Thackeray's arrest: Why a two-and-half decade old incident still resonates in Maharashtra's politics

Senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal on Tuesday morning took oath as a minister in the Mahayuti-led Maharashtra government at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai.

The reinduction of NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal into the Mahayuti cabinet as a minister has sparked a war of words between the two Shiv Sena factions.

Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena, through its mouthpiece, has lambasted Eknath Shinde, questioning how he could sit beside someone who had party founder Bal Thackeray arrested. The Shinde-led Shiv Sena retorted by pointing out that Bhujbal was a minister during Uddhav Thackeray’s tenure as chief minister as well. Let’s have a look at the two-and-a-half-decade-old incident that continues to resonate in Maharashtra’s current political landscape.

The animosity between Thackeray and Bhujbal began in 1991 when Bhujbal led the first rebellion within the Shiv Sena. Bhujbal was upset with Thackeray’s decision to appoint Manohar Joshi as the Leader of Opposition in the Vidhan Sabha.

Additionally, Thackeray’s adverse remarks against the Mandal Commission made Bhujbal, an OBC leader, uncomfortable. Sharad Pawar, who was closely observing Bhujbal’s unease, facilitated his defection from the Shiv Sena along with around two dozen MLAs to join the Congress. This was a significant setback for Thackeray’s image, as it marked the first time someone had dared to challenge his authority within the party. Due to the rebellion, the Shiv Sena lost the Leader of Opposition post to the BJP, which then became the party with the highest number of MLAs in the Vidhan Sabha.

Thackeray began targeting Bhujbal in his public speeches, calling him “Lakhoba,” the villain in a Marathi play, and urged his Shiv Sainiks to teach “the traitor” a lesson. In 1996, when the BJP-Sena alliance came to power, Bhujbal became the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council. One morning, over a dozen Shiv Sainiks stormed his official residence, located opposite the state secretariat. Bhujbal, who was present in the bungalow, locked himself in a bathroom to avoid being attacked. The enraged party workers then set fire to his office furniture. Bhujbal claimed it was “an attempt on his life.”

The Shiv Sainiks were arrested and prosecuted, but Bhujbal, fueled by vengeance, sought an opportunity to retaliate against Thackeray, his former political mentor. He got his chance in 2000 when the Congress-NCP alliance was in power, and Bhujbal was appointed Home Minister. At his insistence, an old case against Thackeray for provocative writing was reopened. In July of that year, Mumbai Police arrested Thackeray at his residence, Matoshree, in a tense atmosphere. A large number of security forces were deployed to manage any violent reactions from Shiv Sainiks.

After his arrest, Thackeray was produced in the Bhoiwada court. Following a 45-minute hearing, the court dismissed the case, and Thackeray was discharged. Although the arrest was symbolic, Bhujbal had made his point. Years later, his party colleague Ajit Pawar remarked that Thackeray’s arrest was solely due to Bhujbal’s obstinacy.

In subsequent years, Bhujbal mended his relationship with Bal Thackeray and met with him. He also forgave the Shiv Sainiks who had attacked his bungalow. However, his detractors continue to cite the incident of Thackeray’s arrest to criticise him.