If we talk about the headlines of the last few days, Raj Thackeray is back in the political scene of Maharashtra. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief, once considered a political successor to his flamboyant uncle Bal Thackeray, is in the limelight with his war against loudspeakers in Maharashtra, demanding a ban on speaker systems outside mosques.
In other words, say political experts, Raj Thackeray is trying to fill the shoes of the Shiv Sena, which has softened on its ‘Hindutva’ pitch after an alliance with the Nationalist Congress Party and the ruling Congress in the state.
The leader’s recent crusade – which he started by challenging the Maha Vikas Aghadi government to bring down all loudspeakers by May 3 – intensified at a mega-rally in Aurangabad on Sunday when he said that from May 4, he would be “anyone”. will not listen”.
“Now or never…. Remove all loudspeakers after May 3. (Ramadan) after Eid…. From May 4 onwards, I will not listen to anyone. All Hindus doubly outside mosques at a rally in Aurangabad’s tourist hub. Will recite Hanuman Chalisa in quantity.
Taking up the demand in a big way, he urged that loudspeakers should be removed from all religious places across the country, even from temples, but only after they were removed from mosques.
Raj further warned that “if the government fails to heed his ultimatum by May 3”, he will not be responsible for the consequences, adding that he was neither interested nor willing to disturb the state. were.
Reiterating that loudspeaker is a “social” and not a “religious” matter, he clarified that if Muslims try to make it a ‘religious’ issue, Hindus will also respond with religion.
True descendant?
Accusing Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray – Raj Thackeray’s cousin – of removing loudspeakers installed by Hindus, the MNS intensified its attack and claimed that its party chief was the “true successor” of the late Bal Thackeray, often referred to as Hindus. It was called “Warrior”.
The party put up a banner addressed to Bal Thackeray outside Shiv Sena Bhavan in Dadar, which said: “Look, your son CM Uddhav Thackeray, despite being a Hindu, is asking to remove the loudspeakers put up by Hindus. He is stopping us from reading Hanuman Chalisa.
If anyone is carrying forward your legacy and is your true heir, it is only Raj Thackeray.
The 54-year-old, who was once known as his uncle’s alter ego, seems to be on his way to restart himself and his political career. Noting that his ‘Marathi Manoos’ pitch failed to cut the ice with voters, Raj Thackeray is looking for a more broader Hindutva appeal.
As his cousin leads the state as chief minister, Raj Thackeray is now taking his uncle into optics as well. The leader, clad in a saffron shawl, now begins his speech with the Bal Thackeray-like familiar “Jamleya majhya taman Hindu mata, bhagini ani bhadhu… (Congratulations to my Hindu mothers, sisters and brothers)”.
Looking to eat at Army Place?
Raj Thackeray’s political revamp comes at a time when the BJP has accused the Shiv Sena of abandoning Hindutva and joining hands with the NCP and Congress.
The choice of the venue for the May 1 rally was also important: Aurangabad is a Shiv Sena stronghold outside Mumbai and Thane. The party has demanded that the city be named Sambhajinagar after the eldest son of the Maratha king Shivaji, after the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
Raj Thackeray is also scheduled to visit Ayodhya on June 5 – an excellent move following the recent praise from UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for removing loudspeakers in the state.
What is going on with BJP?
The MNS chief seems to have softened his stand towards the BJP, once an ally of Shiv Sena. From a bitter critic of the saffron party, the MNS has now come to a tacit understanding with the BJP.
The development is also significant as it comes months ahead of elections in 15 municipal corporations and 27 district councils – seen as a litmus test for the 2024 general and assembly elections.
Raj Thackeray’s loudspeaker dialogue also found support from the BJP as the two skipped an all-party meeting called by Uddhav Thackeray to discuss the controversy and are now accusing the Shiv Sena of forgetting “the principles of Bal Thackeray”.
Union Minister and senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari had met Raj Thackeray at his Shivaji Park residence last month. Former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and his wife Amrita Fadnavis also met him last November, prompting speculation about a possible alliance between the two parties.
However, despite speculations, both the BJP and the MNS have so far denied that they are working together.
read all Breaking News , today’s fresh news And IPL 2022 Live Updates Here.