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Journalism of Courage
A delegation of 23 Shiv Sena leaders met Governor C Vidyasagar Rao on Thursday and handed over a petition seeking dismissal of the BJP government, which the party claimed was “unconstitutional”. A section of the top leadership, however, continues to hope for a rapprochement with the former ally and is reportedly still keeping lines of communication open with the central leadership of the party.
The party appears to be have been caught in two minds over the role it is supposed to play in the present political dispensation. The decision to approach the Governor came after the Sena, in spite of being the main Opposition party, was forced to accede space to the Congress whose legislators were in the forefront of undertaking an agitation against the BJP, leading to five of their MLAs being suspended.
Sena leaders acknowledged in private that even though the grassroots workers of the Sena was angry with the BJP, it was difficult for party leaders to position themselves as opponents of the ruling party.
“In politics, pragmatism should rule over emotions. The rank and file is hurt but as a party we stand to lose more by staying out. Our support base is similar. It will be difficult for us to project ourselves as ideological opponents of BJP the way Congress can. We are hoping better sense prevails on both sides,” said a three-time MLA.
The Sena is also afraid that the confrontation in the state may affect its stranglehold on the country’s biggest urban local body — the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. The Sena rules the BMC in association with the BJP and a split would mean the party would have to face the BJP in the corporation elections too.
“When you split, you need to pay alimony and paying that could be ruinous for us in Mumbai,” a senior Sena leader said.
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