Shiv Sainiks’ hearts still beat for their wagh

39 Shiv Sena MLAs breaking ranks over Uddhav Thackeray’s alleged failure to pursue the outfit’s core Hindutva ideology has sparked a groundswell of support for the beleaguered party chief. However, it remains to be seen if the Thackerays can channel the popular sentiment to revive the party’s flagging fortunes

Around 9.50 p.m. on June 22, shouts of “ Uddhav tum aage badho, hum tumhare saath hain (Uddhav keep moving ahead, we are with you)” and “ Kaun aala re kaun aala, Shiv Sena cha wagh aala (See who is coming, Shiv Sena’s tiger is coming)” rent the air as hundreds of loyal Shiv Sainiks carrying placards and party flags lined the 15-km stretch from Malabar Hill to Bandra in Mumbai braving the rain and fighting back tears.

It was a spontaneous congregation of party workers to express their love and support for 61-year-old Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray who had decided to vacate the Maharashtra Chief Minister’s official residence, Varsha, along with his wife Rashmi and sons Aaditya and Tejas, and move to his personal residence, Matoshree, following a revolt by 39 party MLAs led by Eknath Shinde.

Earlier, in a virtual address, an emotional Mr. Thackeray had said: “The sad part for me is that my own people have lost their trust in me. I considered them my own. Tell me that I should quit on my face and I will resign.”

The resignation finally came on June 29, shortly after the Supreme Court refused to stay the floor test ordered by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari for the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition — comprising the Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress — to prove its majority in the Assembly. Mr. Thackeray announced his resignation both as the Chief Minister and Member of the Legislative Council, but pledged to continue to work for the Sena.

The rebel MLAs breaking ranks over Mr. Thackeray’s alleged failure to pursue the outfit’s core Hindutva ideology to keep the coalition government afloat has triggered a wave of sympathy and a groundswell of support for the beleaguered Sena president from party workers. Shiv Sainiks on the ground say they have pledged their allegiance to the Thackerays and will firmly stand behind them come what may. The party workers say only the Thackerays can take the Sena’s agenda and legacy forward and everyone is thankful for the stellar manner in which the former Chief Minister guided the State through the three waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The sainiks have also backed Mr. Thackeray’s interpretation of Hindutva that works for the welfare and betterment of everyone and slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for claiming to be the sole torchbearer of the ideology in the country. However, it remains to be seen if the Thackerays can channel the popular sentiment to revive the party’s flagging fortunes in the State.

With Mr. Shinde, who was sworn in as Maharashtra’s new Chief Minister on Thursday with the support of the BJP, staking claim to further the agenda of “Balasaheb’s Shiv Sena”, a question mark hangs over who is the true heir to Sena founder Bal Thackeray’s legacy.