Politics is all about possibilities. I came across some while receiving gyan from political pundits, who were unanimous in their projection. It was about Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray’s future course, post his declaration of unconditional support to PM Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha elections. His proclamation evoked mixed reactions. The opinion was divided between pro-Modi groups (reaction: Well done, Raj!) and anti-Modi federation (reaction: Et tu, Raj?). The MNS rank appeared unhappy because their ‘saheb’ hadn’t demanded a due share in power, whereas other outfits, smaller in numbers (as compared to BJP, not MNS) and led by not-so-taller leaders in politics (for many Raj is tall, dark and handsome) had gained much in bargain from the BJP. Other than these people, there was a huge gathering at Shivaji Park and the Raj lovers who heard him from home—that the leader left confused, happy, upset and angry, depending on how the respective individuals felt that Padva night.

And, there were some pundits, who shared their understanding with me. I’m sharing it with you, because, as I said earlier, nothing is impossible in politics of post-2019 Maharashtra. As Raj very critically said in his Gudi Padva speech that the journalists wrote whatever they felt (baseless and figments of imagination), I swear this is the exclusive take of his non-journalist observers. The pundits said Raj avoided fielding his own partymen because he was not sure of winning (even with BJP’s support?). They said the MNS chief caressed his asmita (pride) by rejecting CM Eknath Shinde’s offer to let MNS candidates contest on Shiv Sena’s symbol (bow and arrow). And then, Raj upped his quotient at the iconic park as he looked down upon the Shinde Sena, saying that he had ‘earned’ his ‘engine’, the election symbol (unlike Shinde who got it from the Election Commission), and that he would not work under any boss (other than Balasaheb Thackeray, and that he had given one more person (his cousin Uddhav) an opportunity to be his boss). According to pundits, Raj would watch out for Shinde Sena’s show in the Lok Sabha elections, which in some way or the other would impact seat-sharing for this year’s Assembly elections. Raj would also be watching Ajit Pawar’s NCP for the Lok Sabha yield.