Raj vs Uddhav: On Bal Thackeray's birth anniversary MNS, Sena vie for his Hindutva legacy

Eyeing 'Hindutva' legacy of Hinduhriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray, tussle between Thackeray brors - Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navanirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has heated. Taking a swift turn towards Hindutva, Raj Thackeray has anunced that MNS will anunce its new ideology in a mega rally on January 23 - 94th birth anniversary of Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray- eyeing to fill vacant 'Hindutva' place in Sena's legacy. Countering this move, Uddhav Thackeray anunced on Wednesday, that he will visit Ayodhya after completing 100 days as Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

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Sena's dwindling Hindutva

Shiv Sena which has agreed to a 'secular' joint Common Minimum Programme with its Maharashtra allies Congress-NCP is often in a fix in matters related to Hindutva. CMP's preamble declares that alliance will take a joint view on matters which have consequences on 'secular fabric of nation', which has led to Sena feuding with Congress' disdain for far of Hindutva - Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. While Sena has constantly demanded a Bharat Ratna for revolutionary leader, Congress has openly accused of being linked to Gandhi assassination. 

Locked in a 'secular' compromise, Sena has also had to justify its initial support to BJP's amended Citizenship Act (CAA) and n refraining to support bill in Rajya Sabha. Apart from se ideological compromises, Sena has had to don a secular garb as CM Uddhav Thackeray met with over 200 Muslim community leaders to assure ir right to protest against CAA, softening Sena's rigid Hindutva stance. With weakening stance of Hindutva in Maharashtra, BJP remains only right-wing, staunchly Hindutva party in nation.

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Raj steps into Hindutva vacuum

In a bid to replace its ally-turned-foe Shiv Sena, BJP is eyeing to rope in Raj Thackeray to rebrand Sena's Hindutva flavour with Raj Thackeray's fiery brand. While Raj met with Former chief minister  Devendra Fadnavis, fuelling rumours of an alliance, Thackeray has also launched posters painted in saffron with lines that read 'Thought about ideology of Maharashtra, resolve to create a Hindavi Swaraj’. Shifting gears from opposing BJP till Lok Sabha elections, to harness Maratha pride and Hindutva, Raj Thackeray is presumably treading same path his uncle Balasaheb trod- eyeing to truly live his legacy.

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Uddhav-Raj relations

two had brors had a fallout after Uddhav was chosen as Sena Chief to succeed after Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray. Raj split from family's political party to form Maharashtra Navnirman Sena in 2005. Recently, re have been reports of reconciliation between two brors on a personal level when in January 2019, Uddhav Thackeray along with his wife Rashmi Thackeray and two sons- Aaditya and Tejas had attended wedding of Raj Thackeray's son - Amit. Moreover, Uddhav supported his cousin when he was probed by ED and Raj returned favour by attending Uddhav's swearing-in ceremony as he became first Thackeray CM.

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