Mumbai: Sometimes Marathi war, sometimes Hindutva war. Sometimes support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sometimes opposition to him. Sometimes attacks on North Indians, sometimes giving the post of General Secretary of MNS to a North Indian. Raj Thackeray's politics... confuses the big pundits of politics. The engine of his party Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has often changed tracks. Now the same Raj Thackeray has entered the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024. His party is contesting on 25 seats. Let us understand whose maths will Raj Thackeray spoil in Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) by entering the electoral fray at the last moment? After all, what is Raj Thackeray's 'Raj' policy in Maharashtra:-
In 2003, Bala Saheb Thackeray's third son Uddhav Thackeray was declared his political successor. During a conference held in Mahabaleshwar, Uddhav Thackeray was appointed as the working president of Shiv Sena. This decision was shocking for many. It was especially surprising for those who believed that Raj Thackeray would be chosen as the future leader of Shiv Sena and the political heir of Balasaheb Thackeray. However, it was not irrational to see Raj Thackeray as the political heir of Balasaheb Thackeray. There was a lot of similarity in the thinking of uncle and nephew. But, that could not happen. That year was different. This year is different.
Candidates fielded on 22 seats against BJP and Shinde faction
It is worth noting that Raj Thackeray's party has fielded candidates on 22 seats against BJP and Shinde faction. By doing this, they have tried to break into the vote bank of Mahayuti. On the other hand, MNS has fielded Sandeep Deshpande in Worli. Uddhav Thackeray has fielded his son Aditya Thackeray from this seat. While Sada Sarvankar is challenging from Shinde faction. Political pundits believe that if there is any vote shift towards MNS, then the game of both Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi can be spoiled.
Who is Raj Thackeray?
Raj Thackeray is the son of Bala Saheb Thackeray's brother Shrikant Thackeray. Due to the family being music lovers, he was named Swarraj, which became just Raj in public life. Like his uncle Bala Saheb, Raj Thackeray was also fond of making cartoons, but due to the political atmosphere in the house since childhood, he also got inclined towards politics. He became active in Shiv Sena.
Raj Thackeray was embroiled in controversies by inviting Michael Jackson
Balasaheb Thackeray made him the president of Shiv Sena's student wing Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena. In the mid-90s, he started Shiv Udyog Sena with the aim of providing employment to Marathi youth. To raise funds for this new unit of the party, he did something that shocked everyone. He invited pop star Michael Jackson to organize a show at Andheri Sports Complex in Mumbai. This decision of Raj Thackeray was not in sync with the image of Shiv Sena. On one hand, Shiv Sena used to beat up couples celebrating Valentine's Day in the name of opposing western culture, and on the other hand, inviting Michael Jackson was a big contradiction.
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A big storm came in the form of Kini scandal
Meanwhile, a storm came in Raj Thackeray's life, which changed the direction of his political journey. This storm was in the form of Kini scandal. A builder friend of Raj Thackeray was pressuring a man named Ramesh Kini to vacate his house in Hindu Colony, Dadar...but Kini was not ready to vacate the house. On 23 July 1996, his dead body was found in a cinema hall in Pune. Kini's wife Sheela said that he was called to the office of Saamana on that day.
Ramesh Kini's death caused a stir in Maharashtra's politics. In those days, there was a Shiv Sena and BJP government in Maharashtra. Manohar Joshi was the Chief Minister. Opposition Congress leader Chhagan Bhujbal started a campaign against Raj Thackeray. He alleged that Raj Thackeray was behind Kini's murder. Bombay High Court handed over the investigation to CBI. Raj Thackeray had to appear before CBI for questioning. Although Thackeray escaped arrest, his close friend Ashutosh Rane was arrested by CBI.
Even though Raj Thackeray did not go to jail, after this controversy he started being sidelined in Shiv Sena. This was the turning point when Uddhav Thackeray started strengthening his hold on the party. After this, news of tussle between Raj and Uddhav also started coming. In the assembly and Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections, tickets of Raj Thackeray supporters started getting cut. Uddhav Thackeray used to dominate the process of ticket distribution.
Tension increased between the two brothers due to Me Mumbaikar Mahim
An example of tension between Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray was seen in 2003, when Uddhav Thackeray started a campaign named 'Me Mumbaikar'. Under this campaign, Uddhav's intention was to connect people from all states with Shiv Sena, but Raj Thackeray did the opposite. His supporters chased and beat up candidates from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar who had come to take the railway recruitment exam at Kalyan railway station.
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Raj Thackeray's dominance in the party started increasing after 2003
After being appointed as the working president in 2003, Uddhav Thackeray's dominance in the party increased further.