Thane: Amid the constant tussle between the two rival Shiv Sena camps in Maharashtra, the Thackerays have zeroed in on Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s home turf. For the past few months, members of the family have been in and out of Thane district, building their cadre and working to create a strong base against Shinde in his own bastion.
For instance, former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray visited Thane in January ahead of the birth anniversary of the late Sena leader Anand Dighe — Shinde’s mentor — and called Shinde a “traitor”. And the next month, he chose Thane district for his first rally after losing the Shiv Sena name and symbol.
Aaditya Thackeray, meanwhile, openly challenged Shinde in February by declaring that he was ready to face the chief minister in elections from Thane, while last week, his mother Rashmi visited a party worker who was allegedly beaten up by the Shinde faction here.
This push mirrors Shinde’s own efforts in Mumbai, where the Thackerays have traditionally been strong and where a majority of the MLAs are still with their faction, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray). The Shinde-led Shiv Sena has also been unable to establish an exhaustive network of shakhas (local branches) in the capital.
In light of this, Shinde has been concentrating on establishing a base in Mumbai. In an outreach drive during the 10-day Ganesh festival in August-September last year, he visited “hundreds of pandals” across the city. He has been opening parallel shakhas, appointing functionaries and trying to build up a cadre — particularly in Worli, Aaditya’s assembly constituency.
But the CM still has a lot of ground to cover in Mumbai. Likewise, Thane — from where Shinde has won four consecutive assembly elections since 2004 — poses many challenges for the Sena(UBT). Even as its workers try to re-energise the cadre and build up the party after many functionaries switched sides, they say they’re facing a hostile environment and a trust deficit.
“Thane poses a major challenge as this is Shinde’s bastion and he can exert more pressure on workers here. We feel isolated, with no support, as he has the entire system with him. But we are prepared to fight this battle,” the Sena (UBT)’s Thane up (deputy) district president Samidha Mohite said to ThePrint.
The shakhas that have remained with the Thackeray camp face an uphill task in the coming election season. In a bid to tackle this, party workers have begun internal surveys, and are meeting people by going door to door and holding social events as they did before.
“Our work of building the party is in full swing. Appointment of functionaries is going on, and our next step is to reach people’s homes,” said Anish Gadvi, spokesperson, Thane district.
So far, five out of 40 Sena MLAs from Thane district have joined hands with Shinde. Likewise, out of 67 ex-corporators from the Thane civic body, the Thackeray camp claimed 63 were with the Shinde camp while the latter told ThePrint that 65 were with them.
“Most of the ex-corporators are in wait and watch mode. The moment the Supreme Court’s decision (on the split within the party) comes in, we are sure, they will come to us,” said Gadvi. The apex court has reserved its judgment in the case.
Thane holds a special importance in Shiv Sena’s history. It was Thane city that gave the party its first political success in 1967 when it won 17 out of 40 seats in civic polls. Dighe is largely credited with expanding the Sena’s roots in Thane and its neighbouring regions, including Kalyan, Dombivli, Ambernath, and Bhiwandi.
Dighe was given a free hand in the area, and it was he who groomed Shinde. After his death in 2001, Shinde took over the reins in Thane.
Challenges of ‘hostile environment’
Aaditya led a protest in Thane on 5 April, demanding justice for a party worker who was allegedly beaten up by Shiv Sena workers over a “derogatory” post about the CM.
At the rally, the Thackeray scion accused the police of inaction, alleging that they didn’t file an FIR based on the woman’s complaint despite a video purportedly showing the incident going viral.
The Sena (UBT) shakha workers ThePrint spoke to had similar allegations. “They are resorting to pressure tactics and when unsuccessful, our workers are framed in cases,” said Gadvi.
“(Our) fear is that they have the system in their hands and they have been misusing it for the past 8 months,” ex-corporator Bhaskar Shetye said to ThePrint.
Some disputed shakhas are locked and sealed by the police. “It is very difficult for us… we have come on the road,” said Kiran Gosalkar, pramukh of Shivai shakha in Thane.
He said the shakha was sealed after the Shinde camp tried to capture it.
According to party workers, Shinde’s Sena is claiming to have rights over shakhas on the ground that it’s the original Shiv Sena, as recognised by the Election Commission.
“They are pressuring whoever hasn’t gone with them…I also have been a victim. My son’s business was destroyed. Even the police aren’t listening to us,” alleged Mohite.
Anuja Panjare, a Mahila Sar Sangathan worker who ran a home-cooked food service, said, “My shop was shut. I was told, ‘Come join us and we will open your shop,’ but I didn’t go. My shop began operations only after MP Rajan Vichare’s intervention.”
Shinde’s side denied these claims.
“This is not true,” Naresh Mhaske, a former Thane mayor and close aide of Shinde, said to ThePrint. “People are joining us on their own, we are not going and forcing anybody. Our recruitment and expansion programme is still going on,” he said.
Road ahead
Sena(UBT) workers said all they can do is hold on for the moment, as that’s Uddhav’s order.
“There is no point in resorting to any violence in any form; let them provoke us. Uddhavji changed the character of the party and it is no longer perceived as the party of goons,” Gadvi said.
According to an internal survey, there’s a sympathy wave for the Thackerays even in Thane, said the functionaries, so putting all the challenges aside, Sena(UBT) workers are focussing on regaining the lost ground.
Yuva Sena workers are holding employment fairs and focussing on youth to take the message forward. “Our work is on in full force. I don’t think they have put much of a dent in our Yuva Sena,” said Sagar Bairishetty, Yuva Sena head, Shivai Nagar, Thane.
On the ground, the shakhas are quite divided. Those in areas falling under the CM’s constituency and their neighbourhood are confident about themselves but Sena(UBT) workers have to advertise their work to jog people’s memory.
“We are taking our work to the people. We will talk about Uddhavji’s work and speak to the women in the families by going door to door,” said Amruta Pawar, up-pramukh of the Mahila Vibhag Sangathan, Lokmanya Nagar shakha.
People are confused and there is restlessness among them, said Sampada Panchal, up-district pramukh, Lomanya Nagar shakha. “They don’t know whose fault it is (the split in the party) and what happened so we have to tell them our side (of the story).”
They have been organising medical camps, blood donation camps, employment melas, and social events across Thane, according to the workers.
They said they need to shake Shinde’s image of being a grassroots leader and one who meets ordinary people, especially on his home ground.
“He has been roaming around and giving money to various mandals, helping people with religious programmes, sending people on religious pilgrimages for the past few years, but they are now understanding why he has been doing so. This was all done to get him to the top. This is all money power and people are realising this,” said Mohite.
But people turn to whoever has the power to work for them, countered Mhaske. “We have the funds and we can solve people’s problems. They come to us and we are able to provide them with solutions,” said Mhaske.
(Edited by Smriti Sinha)
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