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Joshi-Thackeray war and peace leaves Sena confused

Although the political storm that threatened to dislodge Manohar Joshi from the Maharashtra chief ministership has currently subsided and the CM is secure in his job, Shiv Sena leaders -- among them senior members of the Joshi cabinet -- believe that the party is still churning within, and that the lull is only superficial.

If anything, they feel, Act II of the drama will unfold after the A B Vajpayee government wins its confidence vote and the conclusion of the state assembly which is currrently in session.

What they are also concerned about is the impact the power-games in the top echelons of the party would have on the cadre's morale.

Naturally, Sena chief Bal Thackeray's typical blow-hot blow-cold statements on Joshi's capabilities -- first criticising his performance and associates in a widely-read interview in the Marathi daily Saamna, and then retracting and even giving a clean chit to the CM the next day -- has left the party rank and file bewildered.

According to a Sena minister, "Shiv Sainiks are still wondering how in just 24 hours Thackeray can eulogise the man who he had criticised severely only the other day. Thackeray has often criticised the government for its ineptitude and expressed unhappiness over its functioning, then suddenly something happens and he starts singing praises about Joshi's performance and there ends the matter. What happens in between is something we never understand. What tune Joshi sings in front of him, will always remain a mystery to us."

The view of the shakha pramukhs, or heads of local units, is not entirely different. Those spoken to believe that even if Thackeray has praised Joshi's performance, the fact remains that the former's long-standing faith in the chief minister, has obviously been breached. "Neither seems to be trusting the other," they said.

Interestingly, to counter the vilification campaign against Joshi, which is being done through questioning his connections with builder Raj Dadarkar, the chief minister's camp has unleashed a whispering campaign against one Ashwin Shetty who is said to be close to the Thackeray family. Thus, in the game of one-upmanship being indulged in by the stalwarts of the Sena, the muck is hitting everyone.

Party-men also believe that the outcome in the power struggle would have been different, had Thackeray let his trusted lieutenants take on Joshi, and then stepped in later to deliver the coup himself. By getting involved directly, he has foreclosed his options, and has allowed Joshi to get off the hook.

A Sena legislative council member was more candid: "We expect a judicious and fair decision from the Shiv Sena pramukh now."

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