Mumbai: Eknath Shinde’s rude awakening for big brother BJP

While talks of tension between the ruling parties haven't died, Shiv Sena has claimed that Eknath Shinde is the popular preference, not BJP's Devendra Fadnavis, for the next CM of Maharashtra. The Shinde Sena supported the claim with survey findings. Shinde's party published full page advertisements in newspapers across the state on Tuesday under the headline, "Modi for India, Shinde for Maharashtra, the dream team loved by all." The campaign carried pictures of PM Narendra Modi, Shinde and Shiv Sena's official symbol.

As the day progressed, the tone and tenor of the campaign turned out to be a publicity disaster that evoked adverse reactions from the BJP camp and the Opposition. Considering it "‘childish work," the BJP chose to refrain from reacting, but the Opposition questioned whether the Shinde Sena was still faithful to the late Balasaheb Thackeray, because the party founder who is invoked by Shinde time and again, had no place in the party campaign. Instead, PM Modi was seen prominently, prompting the Thackeray-led Sena to call it the Modi Sena.

On Tuesday Devendra Fadnavis had a closed door meeting with CM Eknath Shinde and Sena ministers immediately after the weekly cabinet meeting. File pic/Ashish Raje

Fadnavis did not comment on the development, but had a closed-door meeting with CM Shinde and Sena ministers immediately after the weekly cabinet meeting at the state guest house Sahyadri. Official and personal staff were not allowed. The meeting also assumed importance in the wake of news reports that the BJP high command had asked Shinde to drop five of his ministers for being non-performers and corrupt. The Shinde Sena has dismissed the reports as baseless. No wonder then, that the Tuesday media campaign was seen as a byproduct of the tension.

What transpired at the meeting was not known, but the statements made by Sena spokesperson and minister Deepak Kesarkar were indicative of the outcome of the meeting. In the afternoon, Fadnavis shared the dais with the CM at some official functions, but dropped plans to accompany Shinde to Kolhapur for a major official function.

Kesarkar, who is also the guardian minister of Kolhapur, clarified that doctors had advised Fadnavis against travelling by air because of eardrum complications. "All is well between the parties. The CM and Dy CM work together like brothers," he said. When asked about the campaign content, he said there could be a clarification if the advertisement was wrong and offended anyone. "Please consider that the survey has also said that the alliance will win 180 out of 288 seats. Please don't create any misunderstanding over a small matter," he added.

State BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule was measured in his reaction. He played down the Sena claim, saying the people of Maharashtra had picked Fadnavis twice for the top post, and the mandate will again decide the next CM. He said Shinde as a cabinet minister was popular earlier and now his acceptance has increased as the CM. "People of the state have lots of expectations from Fadnavis, Shinde and Modi," he added. A senior BJP leader told mid-day that it has been proved again that Shinde's political team was careless, irresponsible and immature.

Rude awakening

The media blitzkrieg must have given the BJP camp a rude awakening on Tuesday morning. Many in the party that has dominated the alliance politics since last June saw the media campaign as an effort to poke Fadnavis and cajole Modi. Fadnavis continues to be the hot contender for the CM's post after Shinde got it in the bargain for ensuring the united Sena's split last year. Shinde timed the publicity in the wake of reports that the BJP high command had asked him to drop five ministers. After his party spokesperson denied any such diktat, Shinde met the ministers and MLAs on Monday. The meeting followed a media campaign that attempted to prove Shinde's popularity and rub the Fadnavis camp the wrong way.

The claim

"Modi for India, Shinde for Maharashtra, the dream team loved by all," shouted the campaign headline. It said the commendable teamwork of PM Modi and CM Shinde has secured the highest position in Maharashtra through their recent welfare projects. "According to the election surveys, 30.2 per cent citizens of Maharashtra prefer BJP, while 16.2% of citizens of Maharashtra prefer the Shiv Sena (led by Eknath Shinde)." "These numbers show that 46.4% people of Maharashtra trust the BJP and Eknath Shinde led Shiv Sena alliance for the development of the state," it added. It further said, as per the surveys done for the CM's position, 26.1% in Maharashtra desired Shinde to be CM and 23.2% wished to see Fadnavis as CM.

Modi Sena: Raut

Spokesperson of the Thackeray Sena, Sanjay Raut wondered whether Shinde's party was the Balasaheb (Thackeray) Sena or Modi-Shah Sena. " I don't think this is an actual survey. It might have been done in the bungalows the CM has been occupying or in Gujarat. We won't contest it, but want to know why Balasaheb is missing in the advertisement but Modi is prominent. They are unmasked now. It is proven beyond doubt that it is the Modi-Shah Sena," he said.

Opposition leader in the Assembly, Ajit Pawar said it was a competition to prove popularity. "And if he is so popular, why have local body polls been delayed? I also want to know from Bawankule whether the BJP cadre would replace the slogan ‘Narendra for India, Devendra for Maharashtra' with a new version, ‘Modi for India, Shinde for Maharashtra'.