After MNS chief Raj Thackeray's meeting with NCP supremo Sharad Pawar at his Nepean Sea Road residence on Saturday, the NCP cadre in Mumbai was abuzz with talk of him joining hands with the NCP to pitch a strong and consolidated fight against the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha and state assembly elections.
According to NCP leaders, Raj Thackeray may not have significant electoral numbers at present but no one can deny his fan following and potential.
"Sharad Pawar saheb had a meeting with Congress President Rahul Gandhi in Delhi where it was decided that Pawar Saheb will solely handle the Congress and NCP alliance and other smaller parties who wish to give a joint fight to the BJP in Maharashtra. As a part of a larger plan, Pawar saheb is toying with the idea of MNS being a part of the Congress-NCP alliance. He also wants MNS to do well so it will have a role to play in state politics," said a senior NCP leader, requesting anonymity.
He said that in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections held earlier, it was proven that the Congress has also lost its significant north Indian voter base to the BJP. "Congress is also struggling to put the numbers together. If some seats are given to the MNS and the rest are with Congress and the NCP, then this formidable alliance will be in a better position to snatch the reign from the BJP. We have the support of Marathas, Dalits and Muslims, but this won't help win more seats in Mumbai and Thane. If Raj Thackeray joins, using the Marathi manoos plank, other communities will also vote. This will help get more seats and come in power in 2019," he added.
Raj Thackeray's MNS has a significant presence in Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Nasik and Pune in Maharashtra.
When contacted, Nawab Malik, spokesperson, NCP, said that the talks are speculative. "A meeting between two party leaders does not mean there is talk of a future alliance. The Thackeray family and Pawar saheb share a good rapport. We should not read too much between the lines at this moment," Malik said.
On the other hand, Maharashtra Congress leaders said that it would be very difficult to take Raj Thackeray as an alliance partner. "We have very different ideologies. Our voters are not homogeneous. Thackeray and his party workers have assaulted North Indian hawkers and taxi drivers frequently. And North Indians are our voter base in Mumbai. So we cannot hurt our traditional vote bank in any case," said a Congress leader, requesting anonymity.
NCP leaders said that the Shiv Sena might have declared their divorce with the BJP and be desiring to fight the 2019 polls alone but their path might change. "Their actions do not hold any truth because of Sena president Uddhav Thackeray's fickle stand. In the end, they may go with the BJP in the name of their Hindutva agenda. They also want to enjoy power and hence they will not leave the government despite tall talk that has been going on for the past several months. Therefore, Congress and the NCP need to go the extra mile to stitch the larger umbrella alliance with all vote catchers and smaller parties and social groups. No one is untouchable in politics and politics is the art of all possibilities. Pawar saheb is astute enough to use these skills at the right time," said another NCP leader on the condition of anonymity.
