30 September,2009 08:42 AM IST | | Chandran Iyer
Manohar Joshi accuses Raj Thackeray and his party of hijacking Shiv Sena's issues
Manohar Joshi knows the Shiv Sena more than anybody else. Joshi has been associated with the Shiv Sena since its inception in 1966 and has worked closely alongside party supremo Bal Thackeray. The veteran Shiv Sainik discusses with MiD DAY the party's chances in the forthcoming Assembly elections, his close association with Thackeray's son Uddhav and MNS chief Raj Thackeray and how the Sena has changed over the years.
What will be the most important factor this election?
Failure of the Congress-NCP government in tackling terrorism. Why should people vote for a party that cannot even protect their lives?
In the Lok Sabha elections, MNS was responsible for the dismal performance of the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance.
I don't think it will happen this time. People have become wiser.
But there is a perception that MNS is more aggressive in promoting the cause of Maharashtrians than the Shiv Sena.
The Shiv Sena has been fighting for the cause of the Marathi manoos for the past 42 years. It has been fighting for their rights to employment, housing and several other issues. The Sthaniya Lokadhikar Samiti was set up by the Shiv Sena and worked aggressively to ensure locals get preference in jobs. Now, the MNS has hijacked these issues. Why will people vote for a copycat or a duplicate when the original is available?
But people are attracted to the MNS.
The thinking of MNS is for a short term whereas the Sena has a long-term vision. MNS will not go far politically.
You call the MNS destructive because of the attacks it carried out on 'outsiders'. But the Sena is not different.
It is true that in the initial years, there were some attacks on south Indians. But it's important to note that at that time no party gave any directives to the Sainiks to attack. The Shiv Sena is not against any community whether they are south Indians or north Indians.
You have seen Uddhav and Raj since their childhood. How different are their mindsets?
There is a vast difference. Uddhav's approach is constructive and he thinks deeply before taking any decision whereas, the less said about Raj the better. I don't want to comment on him.
