10 December,2010 06:33 AM IST | | Varun Singh
At shakhas, fish markets, even the zoo, Shiv Sena executive president is arriving unannounced like his dad many years ago, often in the dead of the night
THE tiger's heir is baring his fangs.
With the BMC elections looming large on the horizon, Shiv Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray has initiated a reach-out programme for party workers at the grassroots to boost their morale and establish his place as the present and future of the Sena.
Uddhav Thackeray caught party workers by surprise at the Mahim shakha on Wednesday night
In a move that political observers and party workers say is reminiscent of his father's party-building strategies, Uddhav has, since Sunday, begun a string of surprise visits to BMC-run institutions and Sena shakhas in the city.
On Sunday Uddhav along with Mayor Shraddha Jadhav dropped by the zoo, and on Wednesday, on his way back from a meeting, Uddhav made surprise visits to the shakhas in Mahim and Prabhadevi.
Quizzed over the visits, Uddhav said, "I just decided to visit the shakhas to see how they were functioning.
I found that they were being run well and the workers were following party discipline. I went there because I need to be in touch with the workers at the grassroots because they have made the party what it is and they will play a crucial role in ensuring that the party stays on the path it has embarked on," he said.
When asked whether he was trying to solidify the party's foundation in preparation for the upcoming civic polls, Uddhav said, "Building and rebuilding a party is a continuous process and needs to be followed-up on constantly.
This is not the first time I am doing something of this sort. During the malaria epidemic and when we were undertaking repairs of bad roads, I was on the field even at midnight. The surprise visits will continue."
Father's footsteps
Most party workers told MiD DAY that the visits instilled confidence in them and believe that their leader was taking an active interest in their and the party's well-being.
"I remember Balasaheb used to make such visits all the time. Whenever the party leader visits the shakha, he helps boost the faith the common man has in the shakha pramukh.
Shiv Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray dropped by unannounced at the Sena's Mahim
shakha on Wednesday night
As people know that there is someone to keep a check on the shakha pramukh if he is not doing his duties properly," said Bhau Koregaonkar, Sena vibhag pramukh, Kurla.
"I remember, in 1978, there was some problem in Kurla. I wanted to meet Balasaheb for the same.
However, when I tried contacting him, I was told he would be coming to the shakha the same Thursday and he did and that solved the problem. These things help party workers connect with the party," he added.
'Gimmick'
The Congress has, however, dismissed the visits as a gimmick.
"It is nothing more than a gimmick. Somebody visits an exhibition and, out of curiosity, visits all the stalls there. That is exactly what Uddhav is doing," said Congress Spokesperson Anant Gadgil.
Observer's take
George Jose, head of political science department, Mumbai University, said, "Uddhav needs to go to the grassroots because he wants to make himself an acceptable face, which he isn't among many.
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He isn't left with many options. The party's Hindu-Muslim ideology doesn't work anymore and Raj Thackeray is playing the son-of-the-soil card better than him.
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He is trying to make himself acceptable among the sainiks by visiting the shakhas."
