LET Deve Gowda be the one to tell Bal Thackeray that he can't join the federal front," says a UF leader. This is the general reaction to Thackeray's statement that he would not be averse to joining such a grouping of regional parties at a later date. If all Thackeray wanted to do was test the waters, he would have found that they run deep.
So what exactly is Thackeray up to? How serious is he about his bid to paint the Sena as a "regional party" that can have a legitimate place in a federal front? Given that such an arrangement seems far-fetched at the moment, his move has to interpreted as a signal to the BJP more than anything else.
Thackeray is having genuine problems with the BJP in Maharashtra. The Kini murder case, the killing of underworld figure Amar Naik and the overtures from Gujarat BJP rebel Shankersinh Vaghela only exacerbated the wounds.
Besides, the Shiv Sena supremo always did want a role for himself at the Centre, which may be a possibility if he actually joins a conglomeration of regional parties. He has, however, made it clear that the alliance with the BJP in Maharashtra would continue, as he does not want to lose the state under any circumstances. This may suit the BJP just fine. While its state government would be safe, the Sena's impending presence would throw awry all equations within the UF—its anti-communal stance would be shown to be a facade.
While UF leaders grappled with this new threat, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has opened up another line of doubt. Some fear his problems with Gowda may goad Naidu into organising a federal front including the Sena, provided it "gives up its communal stance".
"In a fluid political situation nothing is impossible," says a Cabinet minister. But this is for the future. UF managers are categorical that no such possibility exists at present. "I can tell you with absolute certainty that Naidu is not considering Thackeray's application to join the front," declared UF spokesman Jaipal Reddy in Hyderabad. "There are certain commitments made by the regional parties which they'll never go against," he added. Meanwhile, senior Left and UF leaders are in regular touch with Naidu. Just in case.
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