The “friendship” between the Opposition MNS-Shiv Sena and the ruling Congress-NCP combine came to the fore once again. The ruling partners took the support of the Raj and Uddhav Thackeray-led parties in the just held Maharashtra legislative council elections proving that ideological differences do not bar from coming together for power. The Thackeray brothers have been helping the Congress-NCP by making North Indians and minorities as the main target of their attack. And thus strengthening the Congress-NCP’s political constituency. The Maharashtra Legislative Council elections saw the political trends once again.
If the MNS legislators had voted for a fourth candidate backed by the ruling combine, the Shiv Sena too had a track record of helping the Congress-NCP. This was disclosed by Raj Thackeray himself.
If the MNS is said to be the creation of the Congress to check the saffron party, the Shiv Sena too has been close to NCP chief Sharad Pawar. The Congress and the NCP have been strengthening these organisation with a calculation that no secular alternative should emerge in Maharashtra.
The Shiv Sena-MNS’ presence ensures support of the Hindi-speaking people in Mumbai and other parts of the state, minorities and new Buddhists. They vote for the Congress and the NCP.
Earlier, the PWP, the Janata Party, the Janata Dal, RPI factions and the Left had tried to make a dent in the Congress’ support base through a grand alliance — the Progressive Democratic Front.
Mr Pawar, through his Congress (Samajwadi) and the BJP too were part of it for some time. Mr Pawar had merged the Congress(S) with the Congress in 1986 while the BJP allied with the Shiv Sena to consolidate the Hindu vote bank. This had virtually made a secular alternative passive in Maharashtra where comrade S.A. Dange, S.M. Joshi, Uddhavrao Patil, Mrinla Gore, N.D. Patil had tried to check the Congress.