Look who’s helping the Congress

In four key seats, the Shiv Sena could torpedo the BJP, report Vidyottama Sharma and Suyash Padate

The Shiv Sena-BJP relationship is showing clear signs of strain that could affect BJP nominees in at least four places — Mumbai North (Ram Naik), Solapur (former MLC Subhash Deshmukh), Latur (Rupatai Nilangekar) and Pune (MP Pradeep Rawat).

The reasons vary. The Sena’s identity comes from Maharashtra and it wouldn’t like the BJP to win more seats. Sena chief Bal Thackeray has a personal equation with Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and former Lok Sabha Speaker Shivraj Patil. So it is important that Shinde’s wife, who is contesting from Solapur, wins. Patil is seeking to retain his Latur seat.

Shinde’s wife Ujjwala is a CKP (Chadraseniya Kayastha Prabhu) — Thackeray’s caste. Thackeray’s nephew Raj had reportedly asked Sainiks to help Shinde’s wife win. Ujjwala denies this. “I know nothing of backroom politics,” she said.

In last September’s Solapur assembly by-election, the Sena did not field a candidate against Shinde. As a quid pro quo, Shinde tried to help the Sena start its campaign from Chowpatty but the High Court refused permission.

Sena members are quick to dismiss the charge. “It is completely false,” says an angry Subhash Desai, Sena spokesperson. “We did not field anyone in the by-elections because we did not want a Sena leader to contest for a short term. It had nothing to do with Balasaheb and Shinde’s friendship.”

Latur too could see the Sena’s tacit support to the Congress. Patil, a seven-time winner, is apparently friendly with Thackeray since the time he contested for the post of Lok Sabha Speaker. Pawar and his rival Vilasrao Deshmukh had, in a rare attempt, tried to get the Sena to field a police inspector against Patil but Thackeray backed Patil.

Ram Naik has been a strong candidate from Mumbai North for years. But the Sena, which always played a major role in his victory, is not inclined to support him this time. Sena leaders say Naik often ignored their needs and demands. “When Sena MP from Palghar, Manisha Nimkar demanded a shuttle service between Virar and Dahanu two years ago, he ignored it but when the BJP MP from Dahanu, Chintamani Vanaga raised the same demand, Naik expedited the process,” a senior Sena leader alleges. The project has since been sanctioned.

Naik set aside Thackeray’s recommendation for petrol pump allotment to five Sainiks two years ago. With Thackeray in no mood to relent, Congress nominee Govinda could benefit. Raj and Uddhav Thackeray are said to be sympathetic towards the film star while a senior Sena leader, who did not want to campaign for Naik, left town.
It’s a similar scene in Pune. Both Sena and BJP workers are not happy with sitting MP Pradeep Rawat’s style of functioning. The Sainiks have seemingly decided to support Congress candidate Suresh Kalmadi and Sena leaders can often be seen moving around with Congress workers.