Maharashtra politics: How Uddhav-Raj reunion has put Congress in a fix

The coming together of the two Thackeray cousins – Uddhav and Raj – after a 20-year estrangement brings a new dimension to politics in Maharashtra.

Adopting a measured approach, the Congress, which leads the INDIA opposition bloc, appeared to skip the Raj-Uddhav mega show of strength in Mumbai, however, asserted that it is committed to the cause of Marathi.

The state has seen many similar unions, and partings, in the last few years, and almost every one of every one of them was about political ambition, personality clashes or power.

Congress' big dilemma

Political observers cite various reasons for the party's decision to avoid rubbing shoulders with Thackerays for now. The reasons include a mix of covert political expediency to overt public posturing. The primary reasons are: Bihar polls due in few months to the forthcoming Maharashtra civic polls including the BMC polls, the the hardline Hindu position, often taken by Raj Thackeray while looking to stay relevant in state politics.

Given that the Congress has a pan-India presence and is trying hard for its revival in the Hindi heartland, including the poll-bound Bihar, the party could not have taken up a belligerent anti-Hindi position. A report in the Indian Express said that a large Congress section appears to be unhappy with the state of affairs in the party. The Bihar election has deepened the dilemma as it could not not appear to be associated with Raj, who is known for strident anti-north India and anti-Hindi posturing, the same report indicated.

Raj-Uddhav meeting came just ahead of Monday’s Congress

The seniormost Congress leader who was present was former Rajya Sabha member Dr Bhalchandra Mungekar, an educationalist and economist, who was former vice chancellor of University of Mumbai. NCP (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar was not present because of prior engagements. However, was represented by his daughter and party’s working president Supriya Sule and Jitendra Awhad.

The Raj-Uddhav meeting came just ahead of Monday’s Congress review meeting which would be presided over by AICC general secretary Ramesh Chennithala. Couple of days ago, former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said that the Congress will discuss with UBT Sena and NCP (SP) leadership and “sub-alliance” would be left to them. "If we go in an alliance (in the local body polls), we will have a seat sharing with the leaders of the alliance partners, that is Uddhav Thackeray of the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawar of the NCP (SP),” he had said.

Thackeray of the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawar of the NCP (SP),” he had said. “f the person is completely against the values that the Congress stands for, then we will raise some objections; otherwise, it is an internal family matter and how they do seat adjustments in case we go with an alliance (in the local body polls),” Chavan said. Congress sources said that since many political parties were involved in protesting against the GRs, their leaders should have been given space in the dais.