Mumbai: Rashmi Thackeray, wife of Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, is the new editor of Saamana, the Shiv Sena’s mouthpiece, making her the first Thackeray bahu (daughter-in-law) to be given a role of importance in the party’s affairs.
The appointment, which was announced Sunday, sees Rashmi succeed husband Uddhav, who took over from his father Bal Thackeray, who founded the Shiv Sena and the paper.
Uddhav Thackeray had stepped down as editor after he became the Maharashtra chief minister, but stayed on as party president.
The move is being seen as an official signal to the Shiv Sena that Rashmi will play a bigger role from the front moving forward. Sources say she will head the Sena’s women’s wing.
Up until now, the 58-year-old has been in the background, though not without a say in the matters of the party.
Also read: How Uddhav Thackeray shed his Rahul Gandhi image to be a Shiv Sena leader in his own right
Choppy weather in Sena
For years after her husband took over as Shiv Sena president, Rashmi has been working behind the curtains. Sources said it was her “push” that made Aaditya Thackeray, the couple’s son, take a more active role in party affairs. He was also apparently assigned an important role in the Maharashtra cabinet at her bidding, edging out many Sena old-timers.
As Saamana‘s editor, Rashmi is now expected to take a similar hands-on approach, which could lead to friction with Sanjay Raut, the paper’s high profile executive editor and a Rajya Sabha MP, said party sources.
Raut became an important face of the party in the days leading up to the state government formation after the 2019 assembly polls when BJP and the Shiv Sena were locked in a tussle for power.
The unassuming, bespectacled former Marathi journalist was key to the negotiations between the Sena, the NCP and the Congress.
In the years since he took over the reins at Saamana, Raut is solely responsible for giving an entity-like status to the paper’s editorials. Since he wrote the editorials and met the Thackerays or talked to them almost every day, Raut became the go-to man for the Sainiks and the media.
According to a party source, Rashmi is not known to share a “comfortable” equation with Raut.
“Rashmi tai was keen on Uddhavji becoming the chief minister. She feels that being a part of the electoral politics is crucial to holding on to the reins of the party,” said the source.
Senior Shiv Sena leaders feel if the Rashmi-and-Raut equation gets bitter, it could lead to intense factionalism within the party.
“Rashmi tai will get along her confidant Milind Narvekar, who will now be involved in the daily functioning of Saamana. There will definitely be trouble between Tai and Sanjay Raut,” a senior Shiv Sena leader told ThePrint.
“It is not known whether this new arrangement is with Sanjay’s consent. Uddhavji had never taken an interest in Saamana. So Sanjay had a free hand. She will be the steering wheel now,” said the leader.
Also read: Sanjay Raut, workaholic Marathi journalist who beat all odds to rise to top of Shiv Sena
Entry into politics?
An intensely private person, Rashmi has so far accompanied husband Uddhav to only non-political functions.
However, whether it is managing party affairs, elections or running the family, Rashmi Thackeray is known to have a powerful say in how things are done.
It is yet early days to say that this is a first step to active politics for Rashmi Thackeray, said political analyst Pratab Asbe.
Speaking to ThePrint, former Sena Rajya Sabha MP Bharatkumar Raut said, “If it is not a mere decoration, then Rashmi will have a very powerful role to play. But going by her character, she will not accept anything for mere namesake. She will not be a gungi gudiya (mute doll).”
Senior political commentator Prakash Akolkar said, “It is an absolutely wrong decision. A lady who has absolutely no experience in journalism is made the head of a newspaper. This is a family arrangement to keep the hold on the party mouthpiece which has now become the family mouthpiece.”
Akolkar, who wrote the book ‘Jai Maharashtra’ on the Shiv Sena, pointed out that Bal Thackeray was connected to the media. “He was a cartoonist and a writer. Rashmi Thackeray has no connection to the media. She is a very ambitious person who is likely to use this as a platform to further it.”
Also read: Shiv Sena was hated by Indian liberals as extremist Hindutva party. Now, it’s their darling
Another dynasty story. All the political and journalistic wisdom of Shiva Sena rests with the surname Thackeray. All the regional parties in India are dynastic parties.