Is Raj Thackeray's stagecraft with MVA another prep for Maharashtra's political reset?
Patil's reference was to the Shiv Sena (UBT), MNS, Congress, NCP (SCP), PWP and the Left rallying against the BJP-led Mahayuti government's decision to introduce Hindi as a third language from Standard I in Maharashtra's schools. Widespread opposition from political parties, educationists and parents has forced the Devendra Fadnavis government to keep the decision in abeyance for now.Patil had met Raj at his residence in Mumbai's Dadar (West) to invite him for the foundation day function. Pointed to historical connections, he said 'Prabhodankar' Keshav Sitaram Thackeray, grandfather of the Thackeray cousins, and PWP leaders such as Bhausaheb Raut had been comrades in the Samyukta Maharashtra movement that had called for the creation of a Marathi-speaking state of Maharashtra, with Mumbai as its capital.The PWP, born out of the non-Brahmin movement in 1948 and claiming a Marxist and Bahujan credo, was once the principal Opposition force in Maharashtra. Now, the party is restricted to Raigad district, abutting Mumbai; Sangola in Solapur district; parts of Kolhapur district such as Sangrul; and pockets of Osmanabad, including Tuljapur. The PWP retains its base among the Aagri and Koli communities in Raigad.In the Maharashtra assembly polls last year, the PWP fielded 14 candidates, of whom only Dr Babasaheb Deshmukh won, from Sangola in Solapur district. Deshmukh is the grandson of former minister and PWP veteran Ganpatrao Deshmukh aka Abasaheb.The poll result was a far cry from the four seats the PWP had won in 2009—three of them from Raigad alone. The defeat of Patil's daughter-in-law Chitralekha from Alibag constituency to Mahendra Dalvi of the Shiv Sena led by deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde came as a shocker for the PWP. In most of the seats contested, the PWP had faced candidates from MVA constituents such as the Shiv Sena (UBT).advertisementBefore the assembly elections, Patil, a four-term member of legislative council, had suffered a shock defeat in the legislative council elections held in July 2024. The ruling Mahayuti won nine of the 11 seats up for grabs.Patil, who had the MVA's backing, bit the dust amidst massive horse-trading and cross-voting. In these elections, the Shiv Sena (UBT) had fielded Milind Narvekar, personal assistant of Uddhav. Narvekar's was seen as a wild-card entry at a time the legislative council polls were poised to pick winners unopposed.After the assembly polls, Patil's brother and former MLA Subhash aka Panditset Patil, and Aaswad Patil, the son of his sister and former MLA Meenakshitai Patil, had joined the BJP.Despite the setbacks, the PWP maintains that it is part of the MVA. The upcoming local body elections are being seen as a litmus test for the party and the Opposition at large. The question is: will Raj's move to attend the PWP rally be a one-time gesture or open up new possibilities amidst the political fluidity?advertisementSubscribe to India Today Magazine- EndsMust Watch
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