BETRAYAL
| Date :13-Nov-2019 |
THE manner in which Shiv Sena has positioned itself in an effort to form Government in Maharashtra brings forth a tale of ideological betrayal, to say the least. That it was willing to snap a three-decade old relationship with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), was only one part of the ugly story, but the other part is dirtier by any standard. For, in an effort to form Government, or just to oppose the BJP, Shiv Sena leadership is willing to accept strange-bedfellowship with ideological antagonists like Congress or the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). So terrible is the decline of Shiv Sena in the zone of philosophy and ideology that everybody who supported the party by way of voting or by way of appreciation will feel betrayed, let down and even stabbed in the back.
Further political development may have its own details in which Shiv Sena may have a role to play. No matter that, the recent developments in Maharashtra have proved beyond doubt that all Shiv Sena did was actually against its own grain -- of ideology and overall organisational character, much against the style and substance of its founder (the late) Balasaheb Thackeray. He faced tough times in politics, even got isolated at times in the so-called secular din. But despite those setbacks, he never quit his adherence to the philosophy and ideology of Hindtuva, for which he made tremendous sacrifices. However, as Shiv Sena leadership has indicated that it is not averse to taking the support of parties like Congress and NCP, the people in general sense a deeper stab of betrayal.
In the times to come, it would be a massive challenge for Shiv Sena to build back the public adulation it often won in the past several decades of its existence. The very thought that Shiv Sena is romancing with the idea of forging a relationship with parties antagonistic to its ideals and ideology, is troubling the common people. Unmindful of that popular refusal to accept its new avtaar, Shiv Sena finds itself engaged in political activity for uncertain gains. The worst part is that the people of Maharashtra saw Shiv Sena’s narrative change direction in the past few days since the results of the legislative elections. From a willing partner of a strong alliance, Shiv Sena travelled to the other extreme of calling uncouth names to its old-time ally BJP and even praising its long-time foes like Congress and the NCP. This selfish transition, however, proved terribly shallow and directionless.
Shiv Sena did have only one aim -- to form Government and to see that a Shiv Sainik -- mostly the inexperienced Mr. Aditya Thackeray -- became Chief Minister. In the overall situation, that appeared to be too petty a goal for which Shiv Sena was willing to make any sacrifices much against its own grain as Maharashtra recognised until now. Of course, this is unfortunate, since the whole conduct seems to lead the party towards a decline of a terrible depth from which any redemption would be very difficult, if not impossible. But because he is blinded by the desire to see that a Shiv Sainik becomes Chief Minister, Shiv Sena chief Mr. Uddhav Thackeray is behaving like Dhritarashtra of Mahabharat times. The common people have not missed the detail.
They realise how immature and irresponsible Shiv Sena is as a political party. Currently, it gives the impression that it is like a small time real-estate broker who is willing to give up promised deals for an ephemeral gain with uncertain quantum. For, in an arena of high philosophical stakes, no party would like to behave in the manner of Shiv Sena, in the manner of Mr. Uddhav Thackeray, in the manner of his journalistic minion. There may be people in the rank and file of Shiv Sena strongly opposing the manner of current conduct of their party. But their voice remains unheard.