Shiv Sainiks feel, Raj, Uddhav should come together for 2014 assembly polls

Mumbai, Nov 18: Even amidst the gloom among the sea of mourners at Shivaji Park today during Bal Thackeray's funeral, several Shiv Sainiks openly said they wanted Uddhav and Raj Thackeray to join hands together for the forthcoming 2014 Lok Sabha polls. “At this moment there is nothing more we would wish other than to see Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray bury the hatchet. This is what even Balasaheb would have wanted,” says Adesh Shah, a Sainik from Mahad in Raigarh district told The Hindu reporter. Dilip Ukirde feels it would have been better if Raj Thackeray took over the operational functioning of the Sena, with Uddhav Thackeray functioning as the symbolic head of the party. Our current leadership, especially in the State Legislature, is not aggressive enough. “We need a powerful leader who does not mince words,” feels Nitin Jadhav from Kurla. “Now that the Marathi manoos has lost his support with Balasaheb's passing, it is our fervid wish that the two parties to join hands and take up our cause together. The Shiv Sena and the MNS must come together if we are to realize Balasaheb's dream of fluttering the saffron flag from the Vidhan Sabha in 2014,” says, Rajan Jichkar from Ghatkopar. It is only the question of leadership at the top…our organization at the ground level is impeccable,” says Uday Kave. Suresh Lande from Bhiwandi feels that the exit of former Sena leaders like Chhagan Bhujbal, Ganesh Naik and Narayan Rane were the biggest “betrayals” that eventually weakened the party's power structure over the last two decades. “We could have been in power by now had it not been for their desertion. With Balasaheb no more, we feel as though we have lost our father…our household has been shattered,” says Arvind Bhilare. “We all hoped he would pull through…Uddhav's angioplasty had come as a great shock to him.” Bhilare added. Shankar Suryawanshi, who has directed Sainiks in his locality to be peppered with hoardings of Balasaheb, describing him as a “Saffron Storm” and “The Last Hindu” “Now with his death, there is a strong possibility that many will move over to the MNS in favour of a more decisive leader (read Raj Thackeray). I wish Balasaheb could have brought the cousins together, or made some adjustments,” he opines.