Raj down, not out

The biggest loser in the recently concluded Maharashtra civic body elections is Raj Thackeray. The man who broke away from Shiv Sena for being overlooked by his uncle, the late Bal Thackeray, was considered a formidable force at a point in time. Indeed, he was seen as a politician who could give cousin, and Shiv Sena chief, Uddhav Thackeray, a run for his money. Raj's oratorical and communicative skills remain unmatched. But politics is not only about oratory and articulation. Keen foresight, organisational ability, administrative acumen and a knack to identify and carry the cadres along are supreme virtues which hold a leader in good stead. Unfortunately, Raj's arrogance

and aloofness seem to have cost him seats. The fact that the MNS lost its bastion Nashik to the BJP and struggled to win a few seats in Mumbai indicates that people are sore with Raj's inability to provide a direction to his unquestionable political mettle. While Uddhav, despite being once described as a lacklustre leader under whom the Shiv Sena might have disintegrated, continues to keep the Sena afloat, Raj's MNS may fritter away or be relegated to a party more keen to hold the centre stage in local street fracas without any broad policies on state or national politics. If Raj can stitch some alliance with other parties, he can still bounce back because the man is down but definitely not out.

— Ganapathi Bhat