Uddhav Thackeray's CM dreams: A threat to MVA unity?

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray (Courtesy: PTI photo)

It was an event to exhibit bonhomie and tell the world that everything is going well, but it concluded with a contradictory message. The party functionaries' conference of the constituents of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in the Shanmukhananda Hall of Mumbai proved to be a battleground for a clash of ambitions between Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress. The cause of acrimony was the CM's face of MVA.

Given the splendid performance of the MVA in the last Lok Sabha polls, Uddhav Thackeray is confident that the alliance will be victorious in the upcoming Vidhan Sabha elections as well. He once again aspires to become the CM. His desire to occupy the hot seat is being repeatedly articulated by Sanjay Raut, who says that post-elections, Maharashtra will witness "Thackeray Government 2." He has suggested that the MVA should enter the poll fray by announcing its CM candidate.

As per his logic, the alliance performed brilliantly in Maharashtra in the Lok Sabha polls as Sharad Pawar was its face, and Congress won a high number of seats because Rahul Gandhi was the face of the INDI alliance at the national level. In the Shanmukhananda Hall function, Uddhav Thackeray raked up the issue of the Chief Ministerial face. Addressing NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan, he asked them to announce the face and promised to support their choice.

The Shiv Sena (UBT)'s proposition for Uddhav's name as the chief ministerial face has not gone down well with the Congress, and Uddhav's remark is seen as a veiled taunt on the party. Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole, who spoke after Uddhav, retorted that the priority of the alliance is to secure a majority in the Vidhan Sabha. The chief minister will be decided by the senior leaders of the party.

Sources in the Congress say that Nana Patole himself nurtures the ambition of becoming the CM. Apart from him, former CM Prithviraj Chavan and senior leader Balasaheb Thorat are also contenders for the post. Hence, they are not comfortable with Shiv Sena (UBT)'s demand to announce the CM's face. Chavan has said that the CM post will go to the party which wins the maximum number of seats.

Uddhav Thackeray argues that the "maximum seats" formula would be detrimental to the cohesiveness of the alliance, as all the constituent parties will work for the victory of their candidates only and try to defeat the candidates of alliance partners. Uddhav wants to pursue the same formula that his father, Bal Thackeray, adapted when he allied with the BJP - the BJP should rule the center, and Shiv Sena in Maharashtra.

Sharad Pawar abstained from touching the issue. In his party as well, there are two contenders for the CM's post - Supriya Sule and Jayant Patil. Pawar's silence is seen as s preemptive tactics to avoid a conflict within his party.

It is said that one of the objectives of Thackeray's recent meeting with the Gandhi family members in Delhi was to convince them to accept such a formula. However, the Congress top brass doesn't seem to be pliable.

The incumbent Mahayuti alliance is keeping a keen watch on the infighting within the MVA. A functionary of the BJP said that MVA is counting the chickens before they are hatched. The Mahayuti has made a masterstroke by announcing the Ladki Bahin Yojana, which will help it return to power.