Why does Raj play Pawar politics?

Why is the MNS chief attacking Sharad Pawar this election, instead of his favourite Uddhav Thackeray? Ranjitt Khomne has some answers

Why is the MNS chief attacking Sharad Pawar this election, instead of his favourite Uddhav Thackeray? Ranjitt Khomne has some answers

His cousin Uddhav might be his nemesis, but Raj Thackeray has chosen to fight a different adversary this election. Despite his bitter relationship with Shiv Sena's Uddhav Thackeray, it is NCP chief Sharad Pawar who has been bearing the brunt of the MNS chief's sharp tongue.

Na-Raj KYA? Raj Thackeray believes NCP boss Sharad Pawar (right) has come to a tacit understanding with the Shiv Sena led by his cousin Uddhav Thackerayu00a0

The reason, revealed sources, is that Raj believes the Sena has arrived at a tacit understandingu00a0 with the NCP to support Pawar for the PM's post.

On Sunday, though he made a direct comment about Uddhav for the first time, Raj mainly focused on Pawar.

Taking more potshots at the rustic Maratha, Raj said the latter had developed a sudden affinity for the Marathi manoos simply because he was in a hurry to become the PM.

"First, Pawar said he did not want to contest the polls and that the youth should lead the country. Then, he said, he was contesting since his party workers forced him to. What workers? I think Pawar must be doing a one-act play in his house, telling himself, "Pawarsaheb, you should contest the elections," and then replying to himself, "Yes, of course, you have got to contest!'' Raj said amid loud cheers from the crowd.

Both Congress and MNS leaders have alleged that the NCP is working to defeat the Congress. "This time, if the Sena's tally grows at the cost of the Congress, we know who is at work," said leaders from both parties.

The MNS has alleged that the NCP is working to defeat Congressmen in Sangli and Nandurbar. They pointed out that the possibility of NCP succeeding were high as several Congress men, including senior leaders like Shivraj Patil and Vilasrao Deshmukh, had lost elections in the past when they opposed Pawar.

"And if the MNS wants to stop the Sena in its track, it has to attack the NCP and not the Sena," explained an MNS functionary.

Raj has, thus, taken to his uncle Bal Thackeray's favourite poll strategy poking fun at Sharad Pawar in his rallies.

Pawar, however, claimed indifference to the Thackerays' strategies and said both cousins lacked maturity. "We should leave them at that," he said.