Public feuding during campaigning in Mumbai may alienate Marathis from Raj, Uddhav: Observers

MUMBAI: The bitter bickering between the Shiv Sena and MNS chiefs that spilled into a street fight on Thursday will further alienate the Marathi ‘manoos’ from Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, say party observers.
The extended Marathi ‘parivaar’ is deeply hurt by the row between Uddhav and Raj, both vying to be the sole inheritor of Balasaheb Thackeray’s legacy of identity politics, especially the MNS chief’s allegation that Uddhav was indifferent to Balasaheb’s health in the last phase of his illness.
Many artistes and theatre persons who have seen Raj at close quarters are taken aback by his outburst and his “chicken soup for uncle” remark.
A Raj loyalist summed up the dilemma of many MNS activists. “I had been to my son’s school for the annual gathering. Practically every person I met there, all Marathis, were upset with Rajsaheb for discussing personal matters from the podium of a poll meeting. ‘How does it matter to common citizens if Uddhav Thackeray offered puny batatawadas to his father or Raj Thackeray sent him chicken soup?’ they asked. Second, they said good deeds done to an old man in the family are not to be discussed in public. Frankly, I didn’t know where to look.”
Addressing a party rally in Dombivli on Wednesday, Raj claimed that the Sena patriarch was made to subsist on oily batatawadas and that he (Raj) would daily send chicken soup to Balasaheb. “Even if what Raj Thackeray says is true, he shouldn’t have spoken about family matters in public,” said a Marathi litterateur on condition of anonymity. “You don’t tell the whole world that you fed chicken soup to your ailing uncle. It’s in bad taste.”
A noted theatre person said: “Raj should have exercised restraint. Such remarks don’t touch a chord among people. In fact, the ‘chicken soup’ remark will work against the MNS. The Thackeray cousins are creating a divide among Marathis in the post-Balasaheb era.”
Former CM Manohar Joshi was more forthright. “Raj Thackeray must have sent food to Balasaheb. What’s the big deal? Balasaheb was his uncle,” Joshi said, setting aside as “ridiculous” Raj's insinuation that Uddhav was indifferent Balasaheb’s health. “Uddhav took care of Balasaheb as best as he could,” he added.
Senior MNS functionaries have been putting up a brave front, claiming that Raj was upset with Uddhav’s “traitor” remark against him in a rally early this week. “Uddhavsaheb had stated in the same meeting that he was putting a full stop to his row with Rajsaheb. But Rajsaheb added fuel to the fire,” said a Sena functionary.
MNS MLA Nitin Sardesai described the Sena-MNS clash in south Mumbai as “unfortunate”. “The two sides must refrain from using intemperate language. Such incidents shouldn’t happen again,” said Sardesai.