Nation / Sat, 13 Apr 2024 The Indian Express

Why Modi-Shah came up with ‘nakli Sena, nakli NCP’ narrative in Maharashtra

The 2024 Lok Sabha elections are being pitched as a battle between the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Opposition INDIA bloc but in Maharashtra, the BJP has served a new narrative – “nakli (fake) Sena and nakli NCP versus asli (real) Sena and asli NCP”. At a public rally in Chandrapur on April 8, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Shiv Sena (UBT) as the “nakli Sena”. Days later, on April 11, Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Nanded dismissed Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) as “nakli” parties. AdvertisementSince its formation in 1999, the NCP has never been able to cross double digits in Lok Sabha elections. Its highest score of nine seats in Maharashtra was in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections.

Political experts say that this is a strategic move by the ruling BJP to counter the sympathy factor that could play out in favour of Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray and Nationalist Congress Party (SP) president Sharad Pawar.

At a public rally in Chandrapur on April 8, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Shiv Sena (UBT) as the “nakli Sena”. Days later, on April 11, Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Nanded dismissed Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) as “nakli” parties.

“The term fake is being used by our party leaders to draw a clear distinction between the two factions of the Shiv Sena and the NCP. It is part of a strategy to impress upon the masses that the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is the real one,” a state BJP functionary said. “Similarly, the NCP led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar is real.”

Party insiders say the BJP also wants to show that it is the Shinde faction that has adopted the late Bal Thackeray’s politics and that by joining hands with the Congress, Uddhav Thackeray has compromised on his father’s legacy and Hindutva agenda.

The move to coin the term “nakli” to discredit Uddhav and Pawar Senior can also be linked to the BJP reckoning that they are still political leaders who cannot be ignored in Maharashtra.

Uddhav was quick to respond to Modi-Shah calling his party fake. At a public rally held in Palghar on Friday, he said, “Do you think the Shiv Sena (UBT) is your college degree to be fake?” – an obvious reference to the controversy raked up by the Opposition over PM Modi’s college degree. “If Modi-Shah mention Thackeray and Pawar in every rally, it shows their fear,” Uddhav added.

State BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule said the party could not remain quiet when attacked. “When Uddhav and Pawar Senior attack our central leadership, we are bound to respond. In elections, we cannot sit and swallow Opposition attacks. There is no doubt about Modi’s return for a third term. It is people who have picked Modi,” he said.

Despite the optimism, the BJP knows that it cannot take the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition for granted as the state gears up for the Lok Sabha elections, which will be held in five phases from April 19 to May 20. The party is still unable to ascertain whom the Shiv Sainiks on the ground will support. Or to what extent Ajit Pawar has been able to wean support from Sharad Pawar.

In western Maharashtra, Sharad Pawar still poses a challenge to Ajit Pawar. He has redoubled his efforts through newer strategies to reach out to friends – and foes. Meanwhile, with Uddhav gaining the upper hand in seat-sharing within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), he has sent out a strong message to his followers: he may be down but he is not out yet. Contesting 21 seats out of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, Uddhav stumped the Congress, which lost out on a leadership opportunity against two regional parties. The Congress has been restricted to 17 seats and NCP (SP) 10.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won 23 seats (27.84 per cent), undivided Shiv Sena 18 (23.50 per cent), Congress 1 (16.41 per cent) and undivided NCP 4 (15.66 per cent). At the time, the BJP and Shiv Sena, and the Congress and NCP, were alliance partners.

Since its formation in 1999, the NCP has never been able to cross double digits in Lok Sabha elections. Its highest score of nine seats in Maharashtra was in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections. Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena, which had won only one seat in the 1989 Lok Sabha elections, grew in strength to bag 18 seats in 2019. With both parties split, it remains to be seen how they can retain their turf, both in terms of seats and vote share. A formidable task for Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray.