Why does Pawar-Modi bromance have Uddhav Thackeray in fits?
“If Narendra Modi can share a stage with Sharad Pawar, whose party he termed as 'naturally corrupt', then why can’t we join a march organised by Mamata Banerjee?" Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray asked his MPs.
He had called a meeting of party MPs just before the Winter session of Parliament was to begin, to decide on Shiv Sena’s stand on the government’s demonetisation policy.
The incident which Uddhav was referring to was the function in Pune, in which NCP chief Pawar and Modi were full of praise for each other, making it seem as if the NCP and BJP were allies.
It was the day when Modi made his first speech after returning from Japan and made an emotional appeal against those criticising the demonetisation drive. The same afternoon, addressing a gathering for the international sugar conference organised by Vasantdada Sugar Institute, of which Pawar is chairman, Modi said he had learnt a lot from stalwarts like the NCP chief.
Earlier, on the day when PM Modi had announced the demonetisation move, it was Pawar who wholeheartedly supported his decision. Later, some of his party leaders started pointing out the problems being faced by the common people, but Pawar by and large remained silent.
The PM's praise for Pawar comes at a time when BJP’s own ally, the Shiv Sena, is rolling its sleeves and targeting Modi over demonetisation through its mouthpiece, Saamana.
The PM, ever since the BJP government came to power at the Centre, has often been seen in the company of Pawar in Maharashtra rather than at Thackeray's Matoshree residence.
Just after he became PM, the first function there was organised by Bombay art society, which is run by a Mumbai-based builder - and Pawar loyalist. Of course, Pawar and Modi were together.
Last year, during Diwali, the PM was a special guest at Pawar’s den Baramati, where he was even happily photographed with the entire Pawar family. The PM wasn’t short of words to praise Pawar and his contribution in developing Baramati, his constituency since the 1960s.
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| Narendra Modi has shared a stage with Uddhav Thackeray only once. (Photo: India Today) |
On the other hand, Modi has shared a stage with Uddhav only once; at most functions in Maharashtra (say Make in Maharashtra conclave or Dr Ambedkar memorial foundation ceremony), Uddhav had remained absent as the Shiv Sena was not happy with the way it was being given secondary treatment by the state government then.
Pawar’s closeness with the PM has been a source of irritation for Uddhav. Sources say that after Modi’s speech praising Pawar, Uddhav was so upset that he didn’t take calls from Venkaiah Naidu, who was trying to persuade him not to support Mamata's front on the issue of demonetisation.
Finally, finance minister Arun Jaitley had to call Uddhav, only to hear him complain about not being taken into confidence on key decisions as an NDA partner. He even sarcastically enquired whether even finance minister Jaitley was consulted before announcement of demonetisation.
Then home minister Rajnath Singh called, but Uddhav didn’t relent. He was more than willing to talk to Mamata's messenger and finally decided to go ahead with the opposition parties in criticising the government.
Even during AB Vajpayee’s time, Pawar enjoyed special status as head of the national disaster management coordination committee; the cabinet rank status was given to him owing to his experience in tackling the Latur earthquake as chief minister of Maharashtra.
But then, it never bothered the Shiv Sena as then chief Bal Thackeray enjoyed special status in the NDA too. Despite being critical of Vajpayee, he was never given the cold shoulder and it was routine for senior BJP leaders, including LK Advani, to visit Matoshree whenever they were in Mumbai.
Things are no more the same under Modi's regime, and his open display of closeness to Pawar is just adding fuel to the fire. Even state BJP leaders, including CM Devendra Fadnavis, are facing embarrassing moments due to this since they had earlier been targeting the NCP over the issue of corruption.
When Pawar had openly declared outside support to the minority BJP government after the 2014 Maharashtra Assembly elections, Fadnavis had to do a lot of explaining to the media that there was no deal with the NCP or the Pawars.
Despite everything, now there's a buzz in the political corridors of Maharashtra, questioning who is the real alliance partner of the BJP in the state - is it the Thackerays or the Pawars?