Synopsis
Uddhav Thackeray’s inclusive politics garners Muslim support in Maharashtra. Muslims appreciate his stance on unity and inclusivity, leading to a shift in their perspective towards Shiv Sena under Thackeray’s leadership.
AgenciesIn February, while addressing a party worker meeting in Mumbai, former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said the Muslim community is coming with Shiv Sena because their brand of Hindutva is different from BJP‘s brand of Hindutva. “Our Hindutva strives to light stoves in the homes while BJP’s Hindutva works on burning houses,” he said.
Three months later, his words have found resonance on the ground. For the first time, Muslims are siding in large numbers with Uddhav Thackeray with many saying they feel reassured of equal treatment under his faction of Shiv Sena.
Sena founder Bal Thackray was called a ‘Hindu Hriday Samrat’. Now, his son is emerging as the new symbol of inclusive politics in Maharashtra, beating even Congress.
Abdul Karim Salar, president of Iqra Educational Society in Jalgaon that runs several educational institutes, said there is a change in Muslim perspective vis a vis Uddhav Thackeray. “Bala Saheb Thackeray used to give inciting speeches which made Muslims uncomfortable. With Uddhav Thackeray, I have felt that he never spoke anything to incite communal conflicts,” he said.
In Jalgaon Lok Sabha seat, BJP’s Smita Uday Wagh is pitted against Karan Pawar of Shiv Sena (UBT) faction.
Salar feels that for the first time Muslims would line up to vote for Uddhav Thackray’s Shiv Sena in Jalgaon. “The recent statements by the PM and this so-called numbers of increasing Muslim population have not gone well within the community. Last time even a percentage of Muslims voted for the BJP. But this is not going to be the case (this time),” he said.
The rising popularity of Uddhav Thackeray among Muslims can be felt across the state. People from the minority community cite different reasons for it.
Mohammad Asif, Malegaon central zone president of Shiv Sena (UBT), is an old Shiv Sainik. When Eknath Shinde parted ways with the party, he went to meet Uddhav Thackray. “I was the vice president of Shiv Sena minority wing. I told Uddhav ji to restructure the minority wing. He said there will not be such a wing as there can’t be any division among Shiv Saniks. This touched my heart,” Asif said.
Malegaon comes under the Dhule parliamentary seat where BJP is pitted against Congress. “Even if there was a Shiv Sena candidate, people from minority communities would have voted in large numbers,” he added.
Khalil Abbas, a social activist based in Malegaon who also writes for Urdu newspapers, said Muslims in the area have moved ahead from the Malegaon blast of 2008. “There is some resentment among the people as those accused are out. But society has moved beyond this,” he said.
According to Abbas, there are reasons for Muslim community to repose faith in Uddhav Thackeray. “When he was the CM, there was this controversy about the use of loudspeakers for Azaan. Despite several allegations, he didn’t ban use of loudspeakers. This was a surprise from Muslim community and they took it positively,” he said.
Abdul Hussain Malik, 31, who runs a steel furniture shop in Dhule, said Uddhav Thackeray speaks of ‘Sarva dharma sambhav’. “Sabko sath lekar chalne ki baat karte hain (He talks of inclusivity taking everyone along),” he said.
Malik recalls that during the Palghar lynching incident in 2020 when two Sadhus got killed, several political parties tried to give it a communal colour. “As a chief minister, he stood firm with reality and denied any communal angle in the case. We felt good as someone is there who considers every citizen as equal,” he said.
