What is behind Uddhav Thackeray's new-found aggression?

Until two weeks ago, Uddhav Thackeray was seen as a soft-spoken man, sort of a misfit in political arena, especially after the demise of charismatic Balasaheb Thackeray. The Sena chief was reluctant to project himself as a chief ministerial candidate. Some even said he was servile with the BJP over sharing seats for the assembly polls.

The 54-year-old leader today no longer embodies docility. From openly throwing his hat into the ring for the top post, discounting the impact of the Modi wave in the upcoming state polls and refusing to bend to BJP's pressure for more seats, Uddhav has been ratcheting up pressure.

Sources attribute Uddhav's new-found aggression to a host of factors such as an increasingly assertive BJP, chances of power being at a striking distance and a make-or-break situation where the Sena backing down before its ally costing it dearly in the years to come.

"We have been contesting 171 seats in the 288-member assembly for last several state elections. If we cut down our seats numbers, BJP will stake claim on the CM post. This move will kill our party's future prospects and BJP will never give us a chance to come out of its shadow. That's why Uddhavji has taken a tough stand," said a young Sena MP from Mumbai.

Another Sena leader, close to Uddhav said, this time the dynamics are different from Lok Sabha elections. In state elections, we have to play the main role. "When Balasaheb Thackeray was alive, no one treated Sena so shabbily. Now, some immature BJP leaders talking of snapping ties telling us to mind our language. It has never happened in the history of the Sena. Therefore, Uddhavji got annoyed and decided to treat them with firm hand. We feel Balasaheb is guiding him from heaven."

Sena legislator Ravindra Waikar said Uddhav has taken a conscious decision to behave in a specific manner. "Does anyone give his salary to his neighbour? We will not compromise and reduce our tally. The stand taken by Uddhavji has also been appreciated by Sainiks," said Waikar.

Senior Sena leaders say some politicians from Vidarbha are complicating the matter, especially after the demise of senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde. "Earlier, BJP leaders used to come to Matoshree, discuss with Balasaheb and everything was over on just half an hour. The absence of mature leaders in the state and egoist politicians from Delhi has led to the row this time," said a Sena leader.

Uddhav's pronouncements have also helped energise the cadre which was uneasy at the increasing assertion by the BJP.

While Uddhav had throw his hat into the ring as the Sena's CM nominee for the first time, party Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, who is the executive editor of the party organ Saamna, had made a pitch for his boss in some of his columns and editorials in the newspaper.

Riding on its success in Maharashtra due to the Narendra Modi in Lok Sabha polls, the BJP, which earlier had the status of a minnow in the saffron alliance, is demanding that the previous formula be re-worked to let them contest an equal number of seats as the Sena after leaving out around 18 to 20 for their four smaller allies and is also eyeing the chief minister's chair. However, Sena has contested this, leading to a stalemate in seat-sharing talks. The BJP is trying to shed its underdog status in the saffron alliance and edge out the Sena, which has a much broader political and social base, as the dominant partner.