Ever since MNS chief Raj Thackeray came out of the shadow of his political mentor Bala Saheb when Udhdhav Thackeray was entrusted with the responsibility of executive president of Shiv Sena (SS), Raj has not been able to make any dent into Shiv Sena except on a few occasions however he has been able to cause strong political ripples for sure.

BJP leadership prevailed upon Raj Thackeray in 2014 even though he came out in support of Narendra Modi’s prime ministerial candidature. As long as SS was around as BJP’s ally there was no space for MNS. But in 2019 elections, MNS appeared the bitterest critique of Modi unaware of the future development. Since SS has fallen apart, there is a space for MNS among Maharashtra electorates, which is created by the SS joining hands with Congress and NCP.

The MNS had managed to win over 27 seats in BMC, 26 in Kalyan-Dombiwali Municipal Corporation and 40 in Nasik Municipal Corporation in 2014 which has gone down drastically in 2017. It had won 13 assembly seats in the 2009 but was down to one in 2014 and 2019 however it has the potential to do much better. BJP knows it well.

Speculation is rife that Raj Thackeray is inching closure to the BJP and could be the right answer to the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress alliance. Though Raj was present at the swearing in ceremony but MNS’ lone MLA did not vote in favour of SS.

The famous saying that there is no permanent friends and foes in politics has once again come to the rescue of the situation. Few of the BJP leaders feel that had the BJP contested alone or with the MNS, the picture could be different.

In the very background has something started cooking up between the BJP and the MNS? 

(By Rakesh Ranjan)