Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray reignited his long-standing feud with Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde over the weekend, reviving the infamous ’50 khokha’ jibe that left many wondering what the ‘rate’ of Members of Parliament (MPs) would be if MLAs were allegedly bought for Rs 50 crore during the 2022 Shiv Sena split. This provocative statement came as a surprise, given the two leaders had barely started to mend their differences after the bitter power struggle that saw Shinde break away from Thackeray’s faction and join hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to form a new government in Maharashtra.
Thackeray’s Barbed Comment: A Reflection of Frustration?
The ’50 khokha’ jibe, which roughly translates to ’50 holes’ in Marathi, is an old favorite of Thackeray’s that he has used on multiple occasions to mock Shinde and his faction for allegedly being bought by the BJP. The phrase is thought to refer to the 50 MLAs who defected from the Shiv Sena to join Shinde’s camp, bringing down Thackeray’s government. By resurrecting this jibe, Thackeray may be attempting to reassert his dominance over the Shiv Sena (UBT) and signal to his supporters that he is not backing down in the face of opposition from Shinde’s faction.
The timing of Thackeray’s comment, however, has raised eyebrows, particularly among those who had expected the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief to tone down his rhetoric in the wake of the recent Maharashtra Legislative Assembly polls, where the party secured a respectable 56 seats. Some analysts believe that Thackeray’s decision to revive the ’50 khokha’ jibe may be a reflection of his frustration over the outcome of the polls, which saw the BJP retain its majority in the Assembly.
Shinde’s Response: A Call for Thackeray to Focus on Governance
Shinde, who has been a vocal critic of Thackeray’s antics, responded sharply to the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief’s comment, urging him to focus on governance rather than engaging in petty politics. Shinde has maintained that the MLAs who defected from the Shiv Sena to join his camp were not bought, but rather, they were exercising their democratic right to choose a new leader. By questioning the ‘rate’ of MPs, Shinde may be hinting that Thackeray is more interested in spreading false propaganda than addressing the pressing issues facing the people of Maharashtra.
The exchange between Thackeray and Shinde has once again highlighted the deep divisions within the Shiv Sena, which continues to reel from the aftermath of the 2022 split. While the BJP may have benefited from the infighting within the Shiv Sena, it remains to be seen whether Thackeray’s decision to revive the ’50 khokha’ jibe will ultimately help his party regain lost ground in the state.
A Divided House: The Impact of Shiv Sena’s Infighting on Maharashtra
The Shiv Sena’s internal power struggle has had a profound impact on Maharashtra, particularly in the wake of the 2022 Assembly polls. The BJP’s decision to form an alliance with Shinde’s faction has given the party a significant advantage in the state, while the Shiv Sena (UBT) has struggled to find its footing. As the state gears up for the next round of polls, it remains to be seen whether Thackeray’s leadership will be able to bring the Shiv Sena (UBT) back on track or whether the party will continue to be plagued by internal divisions.
For now, one thing is clear: the rivalry between Thackeray and Shinde shows no signs of abating, and the people of Maharashtra will continue to bear the brunt of this bitter feud.
