Have you heard of blood relations causing one another to bleed? Well in politics, they do. As we write this, two brothers are fighting, scratching and pulling each others’ hair. Well, this may be an exaggeration but believe us, this is what they may love to do to each other.
The brothers in discussion are Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray and his estranged cousin Raj Thackeray who heads Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). Apparently, Uddhav is unhappy about Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) cosying up to Raj.
And why not? The ties between Shiv Sena and BJP go back to 25 years. Raj, in 2006, had formed MNS after a fall out with Uddhav. In the 2009 Maharashtra Assembly elections, MNS won 13 out of 288 seats, emerging as the fourth largest party in the Assembly.
This new ashiqui between BJP and Raj finds its roots in a political arrangement where Raj has said that if his candidates win, they will support Modi. He had earlier turned down BJP’s request to sit out the forthcoming elections.
Now, with this arrangement, Raj is fielding only one candidate against BJP and about 5 candidates against the Shiv Sena. A clear-cut strategy to eat into Sena’s vote bank. Man, isn’t Uddhav fuming?
An upset Uddhav roared, “Who runs the BJP in Maharashtra?” His voice boomed loud and the message was clear – O’ BJP, clarify your stand on Raj!!! BJP members like frightened goats scrambled to pacify him.
Uddhav, be ready with lot of chai-nashta, you are soon going to have many BJP visitors. Oh! Senior leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy and state BJP chief Devendra Fadnavis have already paid their visits separately to ensure that Shiv Sena is indeed a priority.
After another bleeding relation – that of DMK chief M Karunanidhi and his son M.K Alagiri, whom he had suspended from the party and refused a ticket – the DMK today announced its manifesto. Apart from income tax breaks, stand against the direct selling by foreign super-market chains, welfare of fishermen, the party has decided to refrain from bashing other parties. Wow! That is something to watch out for! Will it be just bleep throughout?
With two more close aides leaving the party, Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal United (JDU) leader Nitish Kumar is fast becoming like comedian Asrani in the movie Sholay – Aadhe bayen chal, aadhe dayen chal baki mere peeche chal. Vijay Singh and his wife Renu Kushwaha have decided to leave JDU to join BJP. Now, Nitish has decided to expand his Cabinet in a bid to pacify the members upset over the announcement of candidates.
Yes , it is official now. Ram Kripal who quit Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) a few days ago has decided to join BJP. He had spent 20years with RJD but was bitterly disappointed when he was sidelined for Lalu’s daughter Misa and was denied a ticket.
Disappointments lead to new beginnings. Go for it Ram Kripal! But how much will he make BJP bleed is what remains to be seen. Because there is already a Nawal Kishore Yadav who had quit RJD to join BJP a month ago. He and Kripal are eyeing the same seat – Pataliputra.
Reacting to this ‘new beginning’ RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav hinted that Kripal is ‘a greedy man eyeing higher posts.’ What else do you expect? Work with no growth, huh? Where on earth has the proverb disappeared – when you point a finger at others, three points at you?
Well, it is not just BJP and RJD that are losing members. Aam Aadmi Party also lost a senior leader Ashok Aggarwal. He was one of the early members of AAP and apparently quit because he felt the party was becoming directionless, is behaving like a private company and is concentrating only on few bigwigs who have recently joined. It is believed that he was sidelined to give former journalist Ashutosh the ticket from Chandni Chowk constituency. Which party is Aggarwal planning to join? No clue. When veteran politicians leave a party, they eye for seats from another party. But when someone leaves AAP, guess he simply becomes an aam aadmi.
While people are leaving parties, Orissa’s ruling party Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is witnessing a steady flow of leaders from opposition parties. And there has been an announcement that all sitting MLAs may not be re-nominated. Now, put two and two together.
Someone compared Narendra Modi to Hitler? Who? Rahul Gandhi. Why? Because he was campaigning in Gujarat and had to say something about Modi. What is the repercussion? No reaction as of now. The opposition may be gathering ammunition for a powerful blast. Rahul has also asked Modi to read about Sardar Patel before erecting the leader’s statue. Do you think Modi will read?
Meanwhile, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has distanced itself from Modi, saying that he may be the unquestioned leader in the BJP but its cadre need not get into the NaMo hype. They reiterated that they are not a political party but just has their eyes on the nation’s interest.
If you are in Mumbai and happen to travel by an auto or train, don’t be surprised if you see AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal sitting next to you. Keeping up with his ‘aam aadmi image,’ he has decided to use public transport to campaign in Mumbai. But at the same time, in a bid to raise funds AAP is organising a dinner in Nagpur, where people can dine with Kejriwal at a luxury hotel for INR 10,000 per head. “Kejriwal, indigestion na hojayea! As it is you have a history of stomach problems and diarrhoea. Remember! You have already collected INR 1.5 crore in the first 10 days of March. A commendable figure indeed! How much do you plan to collect? Whatever amount you intend to collect, take care of your stomach.”
There will be more bleeding, more stomach upsets…ooops ‘calculation upsets’ as parties and people exchange sides. Do stay tuned with us as we keep track of them.
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