Sena vs Rane: Don’t fight ego battles in public gaze

The feud between the families of Maharashtra leaders Uddhav Thackeray and Narayan Rane is not a recent one. Though their bitter differences spilt out into the public realm in 2005, when Mr Rane was expelled from the Shiv Sena, the leaders’ relationship started souring in the late 1990s when Uddhav, a lover of photography, began taking interest in active politics. What the country witnessed in the last two days was merely the latest phase of a two-decade-long rivalry that has seen both resorting to crass language and hooliganism. The events featuring crude comments and retaliatory arrest are not becoming of netas holding offices that are accountable to the public.

At a time when the people are not allowed to use public transport, run their businesses uninterrupted and pay fines for even inadvertent violations of Covid-appropriate behaviour; hooligans from both sides were allowed to display their vengeance on streets, damage properties, manhandle each other and create a law and order situation. Mumbaikars are allowed to travel in local trains only if they are fully vaccinated. One wonders if political parties use the same rule for their supporters taking part in rallies and protests.

Over the years, both leaders have suffered various setbacks and their party has suffered too. But that has not deterred either from continuing their ego clash. Before the 1999 state Assembly elections, Uddhav removed the names of 15 Rane supporters from the party’s list of candidates. All of them rebelled to contest the polls as independents and 12 of them won. However, the tussle between the two leaders cost the party dearly and it had to sit in the Opposition for the next 15 years. Mr Rane was expelled from Shiv Sena in 2005. But even after parting ways, the hostilities continued with toxic election campaigns, name-calling, physical altercations between supporters and making of wild allegations against each other.

In the past 16 years, Shiv Sena has used various derogatory terms to address Mr Rane and his sons Nilesh and Nitesh. Even after becoming the Union minister, Mr Rane did not feel it was necessary to be prudent and choose words carefully, especially while talking about an individual holding the chief minister’s office. The “would have slapped” comment was uncalled for and unbecoming of a Union minister.

Similarly, Shiv Sena’s penchant for mob justice to prove its supremacy cannot be justified. If mere ignorant and violent utterances against a chief minister are enough to result in the registration of a cognisable offence, Uddhav would have been arrested two years ago for saying he “felt like beating with chappals” Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath.

Only a week ago, the Maharashtra chief minister had rightly expressed concerns that BJP ministers’ Jan Ashirwad Yatras would invite the third wave of Covid. However, he has failed to remember his duty towards his state’s citizens when his own supporters took to streets without wearing masks or adhering to the social distancing rule. The head-on, in-your-face politics of the day seems to rule in Opposition-ruled Maharashtra which may see more protests, clashes, bitterness and acrimony. It seems, for our representatives, who are keener on reopening old wounds and settling scores, the fight against the expected third wave of Covid will just have to wait while they wrangle.

Mr Rane was expelled from Shiv Sena in 2005. But even after parting ways, the hostilities continued with toxic election campaigns and making of wild allegations against each other.