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When Things Go Right

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When Things Go Right
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If politics makes for strange bedfellows, Sunil Dutt land Bal Thackeray were caught in flagrente several times during Sanjay Dutt's 15-month imprisonment, And, what's mote, neither seemed to mind. No wonder rumours are Boating around, Close associates say it was "just gratitude" that spurred the Dutts to follow up their visit to the family deity at the Siddhivinayak temple with one to Mumbai's presiding deity. But some feel Sunil Dutt Is so disillusioned by his partymen's refusal to stand by him that he is willing to lump the fence. Which would be quite a leap for a man whose secular credentials are legendary.

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The Congress MP and Shiv Sena supreme not only lived on opposite sides of suburban Bandra for long but were, by common consensus, of opposite mindset. So, when Thackeray called for a boycott of Sanjay's films when he was incarcerated, many saw it as a cheap potshot at a political opponent already on the floor.

Within months, though, Thackeray became Sanjay's most vocal supporter and even stepped up his campaign after the Sena-BJP came to power. To be sure, he went out of his way in risking the air's wrath: the Sena's ally had opposed the total repeal of TADA and wasn't amused by Thackeray's pen support for its most famous detenu.

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Cynics say Thackeray's new found altruism came from a desire to worm his way Into the hearts of Bombay's minorities on election-eve. It also probably did not hurt that Sunil Dutt was no great fan of Thackeray's bete noire, Sharad Pawar.

The grapevine had it that, at one point, when bail seemed to be getting remoter, Thackeray was even ready to get Bombay's map changed to denotify Juhu, where Sanjay lived, and bring it out of TADA ambit. In the end, that was not necessary. Last week the was playing host to a grateful father and son. The question now is: will he be playing the same role politically Dutt aides deny that vehemently. "He's a true Congressman and will remain one till the very end. Visiting Thackeray was lust his way of telling the world that the Sena had done more for his son's freedom than his own party,"

Three months ago, reports had It that Sanjay would join the Samajwadi Party--Raj Babbar has been a prominent Sanjay supporter all along. It's now being speculated that Sanjay might be put up by the Sena against Pawar In his pocket-borough, Baramati. Denials, too, an Bowing thick and fast. Take your pick.

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