The New Raj, The Old Sena

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They came in throngs, with the Nashik dhols being beaten with all might. Young boys and girls hoisted up on shoulders swirling flags, mothers carrying little children, and old ladies with faces that looked younger with jubilance. All there to catch a glimpse of their messiah on this victorious day. And then suddenly, he came out to his balcony. A quick wave, and then a gesture saying 'I'm coming down to join you'll' and the crowd erupted with madness.

Standing there at Raj Thackeray's house Krishna Kunj in Shivaji Park on counting day, I suddenly experienced a few of the privileges we as journalists have. While the crowd waited patiently, in the hot October sun to get one dekko at their young dynamic leader, we got to be within 10 feet distance of him, hearing him speak. And it was a very subdued Raj Thackeray that day. None of the usual loud proclamations, no grand gesticulations, no well planned pauses. The man who lashed out at the media for attacking him, today thanked them for their support. It is, of course, easier to talk loudly without the burden of responsibilities. Now that he has 13 MLAs, he knows that every promise he makes in front of the press will be remembered and accounted for. He said once 'elect me and I'll show you what I can do'. Well, he will be watched to see what he will do now, especially by the Maharashtrians who suddenly found a new Sena to support. But the initial infatuation can only last as long. It's like the new, better looking, aggressively advertised cosmetic product you went for, ditching the old familiar one, but you'll only stick to it as long as it delivers on the promises made on the pack.

So why did the Maharashtrian switch? In the erstwhile Shiv Sena stronghold of Mahim, the party went wrong with selecting a popular Marathi TV host over their sitting strongman who quickly defected to the Congress. The youngsters we spoke to tell us the youth is very attracted to Raj's aggressive mannerisms. Across central Mumbai there are families where the 50+ generation is still a Shiv Sena supporter, but its sons are all pro MNS. Others say they can feel Bal Thackeray's grip weakening and that Raj is more dynamic than Uddhav. A majority tell us that they've found a godfather, a Gabbar Singh. When the taxiwallah won't ferry them or the women get eve teased they know whose name to take.

Perhaps they'd have the same confidence in Uddhav if instead of hiding away from the crowds for the debacle that was the assembly elections of 2009, he came out, accepted failure and vowed to win the Marathi faith again. Instead it was his 83 yr old father who chose to communicate with the people through an emotional newspaper editorial, chiding them for letting down a party that had supported them for 44 years.

It's certainly not over for the Shiv Sena yet. Raj Thackeray has a lot to prove. Will he just keep bashing up that odd taxi driver, or will he indeed keep his promise and not allow any new slums to develop in his constituencies?

Either way, as a citizen and a Maharashtrian in Mumbai, all I hope for is that the two brothers get their act together and give this state a strong opposition that can jolt the ruling allliance out of the complacency bound to set in during 15 continuous years of reigning the state.