Sanjay Raut could be the dark horse for Chief Ministers post in Maharashtra

# Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray would opt for the role of remote control just like his late father in 1995

​# Sanjay Raut could be the choice of both Uddhav and NCP president Sharad Pawar

# Only Raut could dare oppose the ‘Dadagiri’ of Ajit Pawar in the state cabinet

Mumbai:

“I am the grandson of Prabodhakar Thackeray. He did not teach us to tell a lie. I have never lied and do not expect such type of behaviour from any Shiv Sena leader. My only expectation is to give us what is just and I do not want anything additional than that was assured to me.” So had Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray poured his heart out at the first gathering of his newly elected 56 legislators at Sena Bhavan at Dadar.

Since then and now, numerous political negotiations have happened and now, its moment that the Shiv Sena had been waiting for. That is to establish the government with assistance of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the secular Congress. However, the veil of uncertainty is yet to be lifted as to who will be the chief minister from Shiv Sena side?

It is a time when the Sena leaders have the opportunity to showcase their loyalty towards Uddhav by demanding that Uddhav should become CM of the state. The Thackeray’s have broken their family vow that no one from the family will join active politics. Uddhav broke that vow by fielding a  and electing Aaditya Thackeray, Yuva Sena president from Worli assembly constituency.

Still, there is tiniest probability of Uddhav to become the CM of the state. He has already gravitated in the direction of being the Remote Control like his father and Sena Supremo late Balasaheb Thackeray had done so during the Shiv-Shahi Government of 1995-99 .

Uddhav dared to downsize the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state, despite the fact that Sena has won almost half the seats (56 seats) than that of the BJP which has won 105 seats in the just held assembly polls. His firm insistence on fifty percent share in power – though he did not speak even a single word about CM post – Uddhav succeeded in turning the public perception of being wronged, towards him. People tend to believe that Uddhav is speaking the truth, and that the BJP is hiding something.

However, Uddhav would be a poor choice of Sena as CM. He has fitness constraints. He has no familiarity to run the administration. If he were to accept the CMs post, then he would have to be in Mantralaya every day and meet domestic and foreign delegations, will have to attend foreign conclaves on different matters. It would be scarcely conceivable for Uddhav to perform as a good administrator.

Party veteran Subhash Desai and senior Eknath Shinde are other two names that could be tossed up as probable CM candidate’s. Desai is perceived to be close confidante of Uddhav and Matoshree and is relatively a sincere personality. On the other hand, Shinde though, suave as compared  to Desai, Matoshree has not much trust in him. The Thackeray’s do not wish to give rise to another Anand Dighe or Narayan Rane within the party.

In this circumstance, Sanjay Raut, Rajya Sabha member and architect of the Sena-NCP-Congress alliance could be the dark horse for the CM’s post.

Raut enjoys the trust of both Uddhav and Sharad Pawar. If Desai or Shinde were to be the CM, Ajit Pawar will love to create a vice like grip on government. Junior Pawar will operate the government and would be the shadow CM, if Desai or Shinde would be CM. Senior Pawar is well aware of this and will not tolerate Ajit Pawar to evolve into a powerful leader in Maha Vikas Aghadi.

After having headed the BCCI, MCA and ICC, for senior Pawar, Raut would be a better selector’s choice to run the administration as per his own desire and advice. Raut is the only Sena leader, at this moment, who can repay Ajit Pawar in his own coin. For Uddhav, Raut would be a better honest CM than any other leader. His “selection” would be also to quell probable rebellion within the party, which may flare up if Shinde or Desai were to become the CM.

Yet senior Pawar is backing the candidature of Uddhav as CM. He (Pawar senior) may put forth the name of Raut as his preferred choice as the CM candidate at the moment, only to achieve his intended target of having a puppet CM. After that aim is achieved all the three political parties will meet Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and stake their claim to form the government.