Mumbai: Just as the Dutch and the Portuguese fought Spice Wars between 1601 to 1663 for the control spice trade routes to India, 400 years later Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) seems to have started a new “Spicy War” with its arch rival the Shiv Sena and its president Uddhav Thackeray, calling it “spice-less khichadi” (tasteless rice porridge). Training their guns on the Sena led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, Sandeep Deshpande and Ameya Khopkar remarked that after toiling hard in the elections what did the Shivsainik’s got in the end was a “Sapak Mahakhichadi” (spice-less rice porridge).
As the day wore out, the Spice War got acrimonious with MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande slamming the Sena led MVA government for declaring a power shutdown in his Dadar area just as the MNS is about re-launch itself on January 23, coinciding with the birth anniversary of late Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray. It is a day on which the MNS seeks to re-launch itself, re-position itself as the champion of Hindutva which it claims the Sena has abdicated. While the Sena is reported to be holding a felicitation of Chief Minister and party president Uddhav Thackeray on the same day.
Mincing no words, MNS Chitrapat Karmachari Sena leader Ameya Khopkar was more direct in his tweet “the cadres who toiled hard for nutritious meal in the end got ‘Sapak Mahakhichadi’ (spice-less rice porridge). But true blooded Karyakartas (party workers), die-hard loyal Shivsainik’s of Balasaheb do not get disheartened… The power game shall shamelessly go on”. Taking a further dig at the 2019 Sena assembly poll tag-line “heech ti vel” (this is the time), Khopkar went on the urge the Shivsainik’s “this is the time to pick up the ManaSe (MNS) flag and join the MNS on the anniversary of Balasaheb”.
In a more pointed, sarcastic query aimed at the Shiv Sena cadres and supporters, MNS general secretary Sandeep Deshpande wanted to know “what do you like the Allu che fadfade (Arum leaves gravy vegetable) or Mirchi Thechcha (chilli taster) and Bhakar from the fields. Decision is yours. Maratha Tituka Melava, Maharashtra Dharma Vadhava. (MNS trying to present itself as the champion of the Maratha’s and cause of Maharashtra).
Taking a further dig at the motely MVA alliance, the MNS coined a new tagline “Satte Satthi SatrasheSatth, only one Samrat (King) for Maharashtra Dharma”. In an attempt to win over restless Shivsainik’s, Sandeep Deshpande remarked “those who hate servitude and have pride in Maharashtra Dharma, they should accept the leadership of Raj Saheb”.
The “spice-less” remark aimed at the Sena, Uddhav Thackeray and the MVA is being seen by many critics as an attempt by the MNS and its president Raj Thackeray to reposition himself as the champion of the Hindutva cause. Critics argue that after Sena has joined hands with the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), either diluted its stand on issues of Hindutva or kept mum on such issues, die-hard Sena cadres and supporters are feeling restless and unable to defend partys sudden changed stance.
The MNS apparently having realized that its anti-North Indian community tirade has resulted in diminishing electoral fortunes, critics argue that the MNS is trying to occupy the space vacated by the Sena. However, the recent lengthy meeting with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly, Devendra Fadnavis and MNS chief Raj Thackeray has raised quite a few eyebrows. During the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the MNS chief had launched a broadside against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his policies.
Taking note of the space created for itself, to rebrand and re-position itself as the champion of Hindutva and the cause of Maharashtra, the MNS has redesigned its party flag from multi-colour to Saffron with the insignia of the seal of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on its new flag. Supporters of late NCP leader R R Patil have objected to the MNS using the seal of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on its new flag.
The MNS raking up the “Spice” debate, rekindles memories of what are known as the “Spice Wars” between the Dutch East Indies and the Portuguese in the 1600’s. Between 1601 to 1663, the Dutch and the Portuguese navies fought bloody wars to control the spice shipping sea lanes in the Atlantic and Indian oceans, between Brazil, Africa and Indian sub-continent’s. The Portuguese eventually who won the war, controlled the spice trade routes to India, later shared the spoils with the British East India company.
Wonder who becomes the Dutch and the Portuguese in this “Spicy War” between the MNS and the Sena. If the MNS does win it will lay control over the unhappy Sena cadres bringing them into their fold. The “Spicy War” in Maharashtra politics has just begun.
