Uncertain Future

On January 26, when Uddhav Thackeray announced that the Shiv Sena would “go it alone” in the February 21 municipal and zilla parishad elections, he seemed confident that his party would retain its 22-year-old hold on the cash-rich Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). But insiders familiar with the Shiv Sena’s workings say it was a last-minute decision, that Thackeray had wanted to partner the BJP for the BMC polls but was dissuaded by party veterans (they felt the latter has expanded its base in the state at the expense of the Sena). Ramdas Kadam, environment minister in Maharashtra’s ruling coalition and a senior Shiv Sena leader, says, “BJP leaders have repeatedly referred to him (Thackeray) as ‘mafia’. We cannot tolerate the use of such foul words against our leader.”