Shiv Sena is a Hindu right-wing party founded in 1966 by Bal Thackeray, then a political cartoonist, in Maharashtra. The party fought for the rights of the Marathis in the face of a wave of immigration from Kerala and other southern states in the 1960s. But from pro-Maratha, it soon took on the image of being a pro-Hindu party, and has faced charges of inciting hate and participating in the violence, leading up to the Bombay riots of 1992-1993.
In alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Shiv Sena came to power in Maharashtra in 1995. The alliance remained till 2019, except for a brief breakup in 2014. It was in 2019, that the Shiv Sena, now under the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray, decided to break with the BJP, and joined hands with the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) — parties ideologically opposed to it. This led to a split in 2022, when another Shiv Sena emerged under Eknath Shinde.
Rebellion, though, is not new to the party. The Sena split in 1991 when senior leader Chhagan Bhujbal quit along with many MLAs and workers. Then, in 2005, Narayan Rane quit and took several lawmakers along with him. Uddhav Thackeray’s cousin, Raj, left the party along with several lawmakers and workers in 2006.
Prof PK Sharma,Freelance Journalist, Barnala(Punjab)
Invincibility as well as credibility of PM Modi very badly jolted and eroded !
Naturally the captain and team is scared and panicky ! May, 2019 Lok Sabha Polls challenge now assuming
” nightmarish proportions” !
Taking people for granted as in 2014, the Modi tribe is still dreaming of befooling the masses in May 2019 by employing all
the weapons possible in its “political armoury” ! Floating the alleged “elimination plan of PM Modi ” in public domain is phase
one to corner glory in May,19 Lok Sabha Polls riding on sympathy pretext ! If phase one fails to click we should be ready
to go through many like such NaMo phases till May, 2019 Lok Sabha Polls test !
In this context, Shiv Sena’s dubbing alleged Maoist letter as”laughable” and NCP leader Sharad Pawar’s suggestion of BJP
playing “threat letter card” to gain sympathy are both convincing and up to the mark. During Gujrat Assembly Polls campaign
too, PM Modi using these tactics to woo public sympathy for votes lend credibility to Shiv Sena and NCP’s assertions !
The question arises when nation has a very well oiled PM security cover, let it deal with it very professionally and smartly?
Do we ever bother, how every day a large number of security forces persons have to sacrifice their lives defending Indian
borders- be it in Jammu and Kashmir, North-East region, Jharkhand and trouble torn regions any where in India?
NaMo has so far proved beyond doubt that his sole and only aim is to win elections enabling the BJP to top the world ranking
table and ratings. Where does nation stand in his views and thoughts in comparison to BJP’ ? Are BJP’s stature and popularity
concerns for him not weighing too much over and above India-that is Bharat ?
I am sounding a note of caution ! It is here the Indians have to distinguish whether NaMo led BJP is adhering to nation above everything spirit or not ? They must judge every political party, activist or candidate on this very fool-proof yardstick while exercising their right to franchise in next Lok Sabha Polls !
Wait patiently, we Indians will see so many NaMo feats and theatrics till May, 2019 ! It is just the beginning of the NaMo Show- Two
Series : 2018-2019 !
Prof PK Sharma,Freelance Journalist
Pom Anm Nest, Barnala(Punjab)