“Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray” was new and fresh to the tongue and might have tasted fantastic, too, to the Shiv Sena cadre though many among them might have felt out of place with being strange bedfellows to secularists NCP and Congress. But power begets a sense of tolerance and the erstwhile communal accepted the new status and took to secular waters with intensity if not zest.

Uddhav Thackeray had to get himself elected to remain Chief Minister and that was accomplished without a hiccup. Then corona came and the virus took hold of Mumbai and Maharashtra thick and fast, markedly unfriendly! Maharashtra’s Covid-19 numbers rose and rose and the coronavirus-positive tally and death numbers never flagged for months. Mumbai stole the dark limelight and UT, unfortunately, chose to “stay at home” with more alacrity than his “subjects” did.

For that “absence from duty,” Uddhav Thackeray took flak. Not from the opposition, but from allies NCP and Congress. Leaders of the two parties found his decision to stay at home unwise. They would rather he went to the people and be seen as “concerned” and with his people at the time of crisis. NCP supremo Sharad Pawar spoke of it and several MVA MLAs and ministers pointed to AjitPawar, Deputy Chief Minister, who filled in for Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s absence.

But Covid-19 and his absence from the field was not what consumed UT. There were bigger viruses at play. The BJP was smarting after UT dumped ally of donkeys’ years for the Congress and the equally despised NCP. The BJP wanted its pound of flesh many times over for the betrayal. A rather unfriendly Governor added to the virus count along with channels of the electronic media which were firmly in the BJP’s ‘Godi’ and would do anything for TRP.

The media’s lampooning of Uddhav Thackeray and his government was a characteristic of 2020. To begin with his denial of Hindutva found disfavour in some media channels. Then two sadhus and their car driver were brutally lynched in Palghar, Maharashtra, on April 16, 2020. Video footage of the lynching was damaging and for the ‘Godi’ media combustible and inflammatory ammunition to lambast the MVA Government.

Thus began UT’s inquisition. And media trial. The media coverage he got was yellow, grey, black, blue – and red. Media got more masala when a Bollywood actor died “mysteriously” and the Maharashtra Home Minister declared it a “suicide” faster than anybody could shout “murder!” But the “murder charge” stuck in the minds of a large swathe of the people and events after that, including another “suicide death,” allegations of Bollywood involvement, and talk of Aditya Thackeray’s role added to the grist and UT was truly toast.

The rest, like they say, is history – short and recent! The main players in UT’s life and career in 2020 turned out to be mainly his MVA partners, Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh and a journalist-limpet going by the name of Arnab Goswami who after he latched on to the Palghar lynching and the SSR death case would not let go. Much like Uddhav Thackeray wouldn’t.

The Chief Minister rose to the bait and scripted a battle royal which is yet to play out to a conclusion. Uddhav Thackeray may not like it, but it wouldn’t be wrong to say that Uddhav Thackeray’s “reign” will be known not for him being the first Shiv Sena Chief Minister of Maharashtra battling coronavirus and Covid-19 but because he got into and perpetuated an unforgiving feud with a media-maverick and television anchor.

In the process, Uddhav Thackeray stood accused of using/misusing state power at his command including the brazen use of the police. In hindsight, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray could have used the same forces he has at his beck and call and which he’s being accused of misusing in a far more fair and restrained manner, with discretion the credo, to keep his detractors at bay, and troubled.

Once Commissioner Param Bir Singh had initiated the TRP case against Republic TV, he should have been quietly let go. The case would have ground on. Besides, there was no need to bring in a dismissed encounter specialist into active duty and into Arnab Goswami’s residence. That was lousy optics, bad politics and damn right stupid.

Goswami’s incarceration in a case that was pulled out of the morgue was another blunder. The 14 days in Taloja Jail turned Goswami into a hero. At the minimum, the Uddhav Thackeray Government should have learned from the setback and put a stop to the relentless pursuit of Goswami and Republic TV Network. It appears like UT got rattled by the targeting of his son Aditya Thackeray by not just malignant media but also by the smarting vindictive opposition BJP.

In fact, as time goes by and even as 2020 gives way to 2021, the Shiv Sena-BJP war refuses to die. For some strange reason, the BJP believes, even at this juncture, that the Shiv Sena will come around and shake hands with the BJP! That’s wishful thinking. Uddhav Thackeray is not your classic dyed in the wool standardized politician. For one, the Thackeray clan can do without power. In fact, the Thackerays are far more reckless and dangerous when out of power. Anchor Goswami should worry if and when UT relinquishes office and pulls out of the government.

Looking back UT in his short reign has come out as a tough protagonist. A man with determination and a lot of pride. Some would say even vengeful to the point of being ruthless. The mind of his party and party men can be gauged from the mindset and actions and words of Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut.

Shiv Sena’s hold on the ‘Marathi Manoos’ has not waned with the jettisoning of the Hindutva baggage. If anything it has given the Shiv Sena leeway and a far bigger field of play. Hindutva is a state of mind as much as secularism is. Keeping the one and embracing the other is not bad politics. Uddhav Thackeray is stepping into 2021 with a lot at stake and much to lose, and lots to gain! He should grapple with grand issues not cross swords with grandiose individuals. (IPA Service)