From 'Secular' MVA to 'Rahul Gandhi come to Ayodhya': How Shiv Sena checkmated Congress

From donning 'secular' tag to w Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut inviting Rahul Gandhi to visit Ayodhya, ideological difference between contrasting allies in Maharashtra--Shiv Sena and Congress have revived on numerous occasions since formation of Uddhav Thackeray-led government. Shiv Sena from its inception to date has been a strong advocate of Hindutva has often locked horns with 'secular' Congress on issues like Ayodhya Ram Mandir, Bharat Ratna for Savarkar and Maratha pride, as it takes a diametrically opposite position. 

Congress party has maintained a safe stance on Ayodhya land dispute case, and always raked up Ram Mandir to accuse  BJP of polarising. Of few Congress leaders who have spoken about case, senior leader and lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi had said that Supreme Court would be "best" solution. Since beginning, BJP and Sena had embraced Ayodhya issue, while Congress maintained its safe distance. 

READ| GAMECHANGER: Shiv Sena invites Rahul Gandhi to Ayodhya; 'allies should also come with us'

Since ir alliance, Congress-Shiv Sena have locked horns on various issues: 

Common Minimum Program 

With 'secular' scripted on first line, unconventional alliance led by saffron party, released Common Minimum Program on vember 28. Common Minimum Program stated that Sena-Congress-NCP alliance begins with a preamble stating that coalition is committed to upholding "secular values" enshrined in Constitution. Indicating an explicit shift in Shiv Sena's pro-Hindu ideology.

It read, " alliance partners commit to upholding secular values enshrined in Constitution. On contentious issue of national importance as well as of state importance especially having repercussions on secular fabric of nation, Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress will take a joint view after holding consultations and arriving at a consensus."

Portfolio Allotment 

Reportedly, re was a lot of bickering between Maharashtra government over portfolio allocation last month in December. To douse situation, CM Uddhav Thackeray was forced to give in to pressure from unsatisfied Congress leaders, reportedly decided to compromise on allotment to cabinet members of Maha Vikas Aghadi. 

READ| Here's what UP Dy CM Dinesh Sharma said after Shiv Sena invited Rahul Gandhi to Ayodhya

Divided on PoK

Shiv Sena, through its mouthpiece Saamna, backed new Indian Army chief General Maj Naravane over his remark on waiting for government's order to reclaim Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Saamna said, " General said thing wrong. Most of terror training camps are running in PoK and se terror camps are run with support of Pakistani Army and ISI." On contrary, Congress' Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary took a dig at Army Chief, advising him to "talk less and work more." 

Sena misses Congress-led CAA meeting

Leaders of Congress and 19 or Opposition parties held a meeting in New Delhi, in order to corner government over contentious amended Citizenship Act (CAA) and proposed NRC on January 13, however, ally Shiv Sena was among table absentee from meeting. Opposition parties in meeting expressed concern over violence in prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru Univerity (JNU), wherein 37 students were injured and police action over anti-CAA protesters.

'Savarkar' divide

Savarkar became a crucial point of conflict between allies in Maharashtra. Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on January 18 had said that those insulting Savarkar should be sent to jail. Batting yet again for Bharat Ratna for Savarkar, Raut said that those speaking against Savarkar will only ackwledge his role in nation-building only when y are imprisoned in Andaman, where British had lodged Savarkar. 

This comes in direct contradiction to Congress party who sparked a row with Rahul Gandhi's statement on Savarkar and booklet distributed by Congress Seva Dal's training camp in Bhopal. Addressing a rally in New Delhi, in December last year, Rahul Gandhi had said that he "will die but never apologise" for speaking "truth" as he is "a Gandhi and t a Savarkar." After incident, a booklet distributed by Congress claimed that Savarkar allegedly wanted Hindu men to rape women from mirity community. Moreover, Seva Dal  National president Laalji Desai alleged that Savarkar had received pension from British and had apologised several times. It went on to claim that Savarkar was in a homosexual relationship with Nathuram Godse, assassin of Mahatma Gandhi.

READ| Shiv Sena irate at Tanhaji spoof with PM Modi, Amit Shah & Arvind Kejriwal; warns BJP

Indira Gandhi 'insult' 

An evident rift broke out between Shiv Sena and Congress party last week after Sanjay Raut claimed that former PM Indira Gandhi used to meet with underworld dons in Mumbai. In a blistering response, Congress party's Nitin Raut asserted that party was t like BJP and that it would t tolerate taunts by Shiv Sena leaders. remark against Gandhi was rigidly denied by Congress party, despite a photo of underworld don Karim Lala and Indira Gandhi emerged. Moreover, Raut was forced to retract his statement later. 

Indira Gandhi was our leader. and is also our guiding force. To talk about such a senior leader in this manner will t be accepted by us at all. I kw that Sena's Sanjay Raut was previously with BJP and used to critise m during ir alliance. But if y think that we will listen to m and stay quiet, n that will t be happening. We kw how to hit back. If someone talks about our leaders in this way n well will t accept it any manner, " Nitin Raut said. 

2014 alliance controversy

Ar controversy broke out when in a clear indication of dissent brewing in Congress party over joining hands with Shiv Sena, former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan claimed that a similar situation had arisen in 2014 as well. He revealed that Sena had approached him back n to form a coalition government so that BJP could be kept out of power. According to Prithviraj Chavan, he turned down offer. Furrmore, he opined that an election loss and sitting in opposition were t unusual in politics. 

However, Sena on Wednesday said that re was question of Sena approaching Congress to form government in 2014 due to Congress' diminished state, via an editorial in its mouthpiece  Saamana. Recalling temporary split between BJP and Shiv Sena during 2014 election – as y contested separately – Saamana stated taht Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan's comments were t logical and cant be taken seriously.

READ| BJP's big question on CM Uddhav Thackeray's Ayodhya visit: "Will Congress-NCP come along?"