Mumbai: Loyal Shiv Sena strongman and close confidante of party president, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Adv Anil Parab has finally been inducted into state cabinet with a cabinet rank. Normally no one rewards failures, but even after failing to get Sena candidate elected from Bandra East constituency in the recent 2019 assembly elections, Matoshree apparently has overlooked the failure and rewarded loyalty.
By the evening, it is expected that the Chief Minister would announce the portfolios of all news ministers. It is expected that Parab would get an important portfolio – Urban Development to keep control on civic matters primarily on BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation – the major resources for Shiv Sean’s life support system.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has not held any portfolio with him, preferring to be a Chief Minister with no portfolio. Uddhav needs a loyal, experienced Shiv Sainik alongside him to the crucial Urban Development Department (UDD).
The civic polls of BMC is scheduled in January 2022. Till that time, it is expected the ‘tripod’ government of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) comprising Shiv Sena – NCP – Congress will withstand. If the government lasts till then, certainly the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will be the main opponent against the Sena led MVA in the civic poll. The BJP which came within striking distance of upsetting the Sena applecart in 2017 polls, will try to dethrone Sena from the BMC.
Hence, the UDD and the minister would play a crucial role. The minister will push all important projects related to BMC and other infrastructure projects like Coastal road, metro project will be moved forward. The Sena may also take credit of such infra projects that will help the party to maintain power in the BMC.
Meanwhile, Parab had entrusted accountability of two assembly constituencies during 2019 assembly polls that included Bandra East and Chandivli. Parab had concentrated on Chandivli to defeat Congress stalwart Nassem Khan and Parab succeeded. Khan was defeated in the direct contest against Dilip (Mama) Lande of Sena.
“Yes, it was my negligence as I thought, Bandra East will be easy for Sena. The survey had indicted Trupti Sawant (then outgoing Sena MLA) will be defeated in the polls and hence the party had replaced Trupti by then BMC Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar. Trupti Sawant had contested as an independent candidate, “recalled Parab during an interaction with him at Nagpur.
He further said that he had anticipated that Trupti Sawant may bag 30,000 votes. “There would be division of votes between Sawant, Congress, MIM, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA). That will be ultimately beneficial for the Sena. But, my analyses went wrong, ” said Parab and claimed that even the highly educated Marathi Voters had voted to Zesshan Baba Siddiqui of Congress that led him victory against Sena.
Parab is the leader who is excellent at micro level planning of the assembly polls. He well aware of the mood of people from each and every poll booth in Bandra East. He was the only Shiv Sainik who’s planning had defeated Narayan Rane in Bandra East assembly bypoll. His virtuosity at poll management and loyalty towards Matoshree – expertise in civic issues might have got him an opportunity to serve as cabinet minister.
Anil Parab would be the second master-strategist after Subhash Desai who will take care of Uddhav’s government.
