They are among thousands of party workers, unseen, unheard, but necessary for a candidate's win
They are among thousands of party workers, unseen, unheard, but necessary for a candidate's win
MNS worker, Rahul Shelar
Rahul Shelar's moment in the sun came when he cast the first stone in the cityu00a0- at shops that did not 'obey'
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Raj Thackeray's mandate of Marathi signboards. Shelar (35) gave the orders to the rank and file to smash the signage at a clothing store in Thane in August 2008. "I stood back; two boys from the party did the job.
A full-time MNS party worker for over a year and a half, Shelar likens the party and its operatives to India's freedom struggle, Bhagat Singh and Rajguru. "They were called terrorists, now we call them freedom fighters, shahids. It's the same with us... MNS, people say, is synonymous with tod phod, but its for a cause, for the people. Only later, will people realize our true worth."
A shrill tutari ringtone (the shehnai-like instrument popular among Marathas) interrupts his monologue. He lets it ring to reveal his master's voiceu00a0- Raj Thackeray's rant, a summation of his speech at Shivaji Park. "He [Raj] means a lot to me. If Rajan Rajeji had won, [the MNS candidate from Thane city] we wouldn't have been sitting across chatting. I would have been at Dadar. Par ab toh time hi time hai," he grins.
He looks at the huge Raj posters on the wall and says, "Do you know I was a devotee, a crazy fan of the Shiv Sena since I was 10. I went around sticking posters, carrying flags, did whatever I was asked to. And then, as I grew older, I gave it up. Woh dum nahin raha. I felt cheated as a Marathi manoos. Aur batiye, 43 years mein kya kiya hai Sena?" He hasn't met Bal Thackeray or Uddhav and doesn't regret it. "I have met Raj-ji at least six times and that's what matters," he says.
When he's not a party worker, he's a husband, father and a landlord. "I'm a graduate and I used to have a cybercafe and a clothing store, but it didn't work out. The returns I get from being a political worker is much more. People know me, I can solve their problems, there's a sense of satisfaction of being in control. The tutari announces Nitin Sardesai's win in Mahim. "In 10 years," Shelar says, "the MNS will come to power in the state." Will he contest? "Arre nahin, I have no ambition. I can continue as an ordinary worker, but yes, if Raj saheb asks me to contest, I will."
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