Shivajigiri

Sudheendra Kulkarni, part of BJP’s think tank, acknowledges the fact that ‘Me Shivajiraje Bhosale Boltoy’ gave a fillip to MNS in LS elections… and nudges Raj to take up a more inclusive path to ‘shine in Maharashtra’. So is BJP warming up to MNS… their Chintan Baithaks seem to be hinting at that! Not surprising as TOI is already speculating that Pawar might cosy up with Shiv Sena before the coming state elections.

Interestingly Kulkarni coins a new word – Shivajigiri… which might become ‘currency’ in Maharashtra in the coming days.

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Raj sinks the Saffron boat in Mumbai

Raj takes a leaf from Modi’s ‘Book of Politics’

On Sunday, Raj Thackeray delivered a lecture on “Future of Maharashtra” during a Vyakhyanmala in Nigdi near Pune. 3M accidentally came across live transmission of the event on Star Majha… Surprise Surprise… Thackeray Jr was singing a different tune… from “UP-Bihari Hatao” he has moved to “Development”. The speech was replete with examples of development from around the world. He realizes that rhetoric (and violence) can open political doors but development can ensure sustained support from voters… Lessons learnt from M/s Modi, Dixit & Pattnaik!

The fact that he is warming up to BJP was clear from his statements like “Modi for PM” and “Gadkari for CM”… as political equations are set to change, he seems to be preparing ground!

Raj T goes gaming online with Zapak

When Raj Thackeray launched his party’s official website (www.manase.org) 2 months ago, 3M was impressed by the content… sadly it turned out to be a “near static” site! Imagine… how can they keep “forthcoming events” blank during the Lok Sabha Elections? Guys, take some lessons from BJP on the e-front… From www.lkadvani.in to www.friendsofbjp.org and from SMS to Facebook, they have exploited all options!

Just when 3M thought MNS had “lost” the e-battle… they come out with www.manase.zapak.com... A gaming site… rudimentary but probably a first in India! MNS has correctly identified its target group... youth.

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Raj set to spoil BJP-SS chances in the Golden Triangle

BJP-SS cadre in the Golden Triangle (Mumbai-Pune-Nashik) seem to be demoralised as MNS makes inroads into Marathi vote bank… 3M is amused that Raj's message finds resonance with the NCP cadre in Nashik!

Now BJP tries to woo Marathi Manoos

After the MNS’s Marathi campaign, Shiv Sena had to reemphasise its Marathi roots to stay relevant to its core constituency… now its ally BJP has jumped into the fray demanding greater usage of Marathi in administration, road signages etc.

3M says that if BJP really wants to woo the Marathi Manoos it should set the ball rolling to settle the Belgaum Border Dispute… but who will bell the cat?

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Pravin Mahajan’s Slander

Read the original Loksatta article that caused the outcry

BJP fields an ‘Anti-Bhaiyya’ candidate

During the ‘Anti-Bhaiyya’ campaign by MNS, BJP leadership (national as well as regional) spoke against Raj Thackeray… keeping in mind the North Indian voters. So, BJP does not believe in such ‘parochial’ tendencies… or so 3M thought till he realized that the party has given LS ticket in Solapur to Sharad Bansode, the man who directed and produced the controversial movie “Mumbai Aamchich”. This movie was initially banned by the censors (Read Sharmila Tagore) for promoting anti-north sentiments in Maharashtra but was later released with Raj Thackeray’s blessing in 2007.

So is BJP running with the rabbits and hunting with the hounds?

Sena-BJP Rally – a Damp Squib

Sena-BJP did not look like a coherent front in yesterday’s rally @ Shivaji Park… The strain in the relationship was evident as Pawar’s shadow loomed large over the gathering. Though Uddhav did pitch for ‘Advani as PM’, it hardly looked convincing. Absence of Vajpayee, Mahajan and Thackeray Sr made the whole event lackluster!

3M was irritated when Balasaheb’s ‘hi-tech’ speech turned out to be a video recording and not a live telecast… What so high technology about a recorded message? Surprisingly in his speech Thackeray Sr made no mention of either Advani or BJP… he only asked the Janta to vote for Shiv Sena. Looks like Sena will tango with NCP for the assembly elections!

Ticketless Poonam gravitates towards MNS

Pramod Mahajan sniggered at Congress all his life for encouraging dynastic rule… and now his daughter Poonam Mahajan-Rao is angry that she has been denied the ticket by BJP after projecting her as a youth leader in a banner campaign across Mumbai 6 months ago!

When she paid a visit to Raj Thackeray to “wish him” on Gudi Padwa, the BJP machinery was caught on the back foot… While MNS has shown the will to field her from any constituency she chooses, BJP is evaluating her to take on Priya Dutt… But “purely on merit”!

3M would like to know the definition of “Merit” in the BJP dictionary…

Thackeray loves Gandhi

After Varun Gandhi’s vitriolic diatribe, BJP tries to maintain a distance but Bal Thackeray finally falls in love with somebody from the Gandhi Parivar!

But much to Thackeray’s chagrin, Varun denies that he made those statements…

Wooing Marathi Manoos outside Maharashtra

As parties try to woo Marathi Manoos outside Maharashtra, some get it right… some fall flat on their face!

Both the National parties are planning to field Marathi Manoos in Vadodara… Congress’s Satyajit Gaekwad has the “correct surname” to build on the legacy of Maharaja Sayaji Gaekwad… while BJP has decided to field Balkrishna Shukla, a RSS nominee with a clean image.

But efforts of the BJP MP and MLA to woo Marathi votes in Karnataka has drawn Karnataka Rakshana Vedike’s ire!

Pramod Mahajan wanted to break the BJP-SS alliance

Mahesh Vijapurkar makes a startling revelation that Pramod Mahajan had planned to break the BJP-Sena Yuti for the forthcoming Lok Sabha Elections!

Bada Bhai… Chhota Bhai…

Narendra Modi made a very impressive bhashan at a rally in Thane last Sunday… He tomtomed about how Gujarat has whizzed past other states on the economic ladder!

Some interesting lines from his speech – “We were a part of Maharashtra (Read: We Gujaratis)… You are the elder brother… We are the younger brother… when we parted way, you had everything … We left the house without anything (Read: Mumbai)… and look where we are today… you have lagged behind because you decided to join hands with Congress!”

3M is amused that half a century after creation of Maharashtra, the Gujarati psyche is still troubled with the ‘Loss of Bombay’… Modisaheb, if you aspire to be the PM someday “We vs You” speeches are not going to help!

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