Maharashtra political crisis: Shiv Sena veterans identify with ‘feeling of being left out in govt’

PUNE: Nearly two and half years after Shiv Sena snapped ties with the BJP, anger about the decision among Shiv Sainiks still simmers. On the other hand, many party workers and leaders have expressed their displeasure about joining hands with the NCP and the Congress.
A softer Hindutva stand had forced some party leaders to resign. Former Pune unit chief of the Shiv Sena Shyam Deshpande was among them. Other leaders in city had the same feelings, but they did not openly say it. Though not many leaders from the party’s Pune unit have allied with rebel leader Eknath Shinde after his revolt, they sympathise with his feelings of “Sena being sidelined and ignored in the state government.”
According to party workers, senior party leaders could not gauge the anger among the leaders. Even after broad hints like Deshpande’s resignation, damage control efforts were a minimum. Deshpande refused any comment on the developments when contacted.
“Many workers were not happy with the ideological shift in the party. We have been going with our Hindutva card. But the common minimum programme did not justify our ideology,” a senior Sena leader said. Compromises made on this ideology to save the government hurt loyal workers who were not able to digest them, another worker said.
“We have been opposing the NCP and Congress for years. But we formed a government with these parties and it was shameful to us,” an office bearer of the Sena’s city unit said.
Member of Parliament Bhavana Gavali has openly urged the party chief to consider the MLAs demand.