A family reunion in changing times

Ganesh Chaturthi is a traditional occasion for Ganpati diplomacy in Maharashtra.

- ADITI PHADNIS

It is a time for estrangements tobe buried, for dif ferences to be resolved. And so it was with the Thackeray family when ShivSena(UddhavBalasaheb Thackeray) chief Uddhav Thackeray, with his family, visited Shivatirth, his cousin Raj’s residence, for aGanpati puja after nearly 20 years. Raj had walked out of the family ‘bosom in 2006, after Bal Thackeray anointed his son Uddhav his successor. Raj formed the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), the political riposte to personal heartbreak. While the politicsmight havebegun to repair itself, it is hard to say ifthe personal hurt has been forgiven.

‘The political history ofthe MNS has been underwhelming. In the 2009 LokSabha elections, the MNS fielded 11 candidates. None was elected but they damaged the Shiv Sena in many seats. In the Assembly elections the same year, the MNS contested 143 seats and won 13. That was to be its lifetime high. In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the party fielded 10 candidates, all of whom losttheir security deposit. In the Assembly elections that year, the party contested 219 of the 288, forfeiting the deposit in 209 and winningjust one.