Old-timers fondly recall the Sena-BJP's halcyon days when ambition was curbed with affection and 'aam kaa achaar' resolved acrimony in the 'bhagwa' (saffron) brigade.
"It is not that everything was hunky-dory in the Sena-BJP alliance in that era. However, Balasaheb and Pramodji handled tension with tact. Also, the comfort level between them was exceptionally high," said a Sena veteran who held a key post in the 'yuti' (alliance) government between 1995 and 1999.
The present-day saffron satraps lack political skills and plain ground wisdom. "Plus, there is lack of friendliness," he stated regretfully. "There is a picture of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani greeting Balasaheb. The photograph oozes warmth. Those helming the BJP today—Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, for instance—may not understand the fine sensibilities of the 1990s," he added.
For instance, Mahajan had unhindered access to Matoshree, almost 24x7. "If there was a skirmish in the Sena-BJP government and Balasaheb was in a foul mood, Pramodji would make a beeline to the kitchen and start a conversation with Meenatai (Balasaheb's wife and a sobering influence on saffron leaders) who would be busy cooking. Pramodji would take a plate for himself and dig into piping hot 'chapatis' and mango pickle. And that was the end of the crisis," said the Sena leader.
Again, Thackeray would ease the situation with his wry humour. For instance, his term of endearment for Gopinath Munde (the senior BJP leader who died in June this year) was 'BJP ke gunde', while Mahajan had earned the soubriquet of 'promote' , the Sena chief's grudging compliment to the BJP strategist's exceptional PR and managerial skills.
The Thackeray-Mahajan ties deepened at the former's evening 'gappa' sessions at Matoshree. "The two leaders would discuss Pu. La. Deshpande's humour, Lata's ditties and David Lowe's—Balasaheb's icon—cartoons over warm beer (for Balasaheb) and a glass of fruit juice (for Mahajan)," said a close associate of Mahajan.
Today, the Sena-BJP ties are, sadly, governed by formality that often borders on indifference, say observers. Last week, Uddhav Thackeray appeared in the visitors' block of Matoshree and met senior BJP leader Om Prakash Mathur, who led a contingent of party leaders to the Thackerays' Bandra residence for talks.
After a formal 'namaste', the Sena president, it is said, asked one of his subordinates to conduct parleys with Mathur & Co and retired to his second-floor apartment. "We had to put our foot down and tell the Sena functionary that in keeping with the protocol, Thackeray should be present at the meeting as Mathur is our party's poll observer," said a BJP functionary. "The escalating trust deficit has aggravated our problem," he added.
"Both Balasaheb and Pramodji had great respect for each other. That helped us sail through crisis of every shape and size," said Atul Bhatkhalkar, general secretary of the Maharashtra BJP and a close witness to the Thackeray-Mahajan era. "Balasaheb considered Pramodji as his fourth son," Bhatkhalkar added.
The Sena-BJP chroniclers recall how Mahajan earned a handsome compliment, that too publicly, from Balasaheb at a Sena-BJP jamboree at Girgaum Chowpatty in 1997. "Pramod has spoken so well... he has mesmerised all of us with his words... I don't know if there is any need for me to speak," Balasaheb said.
"This was indeed rare as Balasaheb would never praise someone who was younger than him," said a Sena MP who was present at the Chowpatty conclave.
Thackeray's final tribute to Mahajan is poignant. On knowing that the BJP leader had passed away following a family tragedy in May 2006, the Sena chief visited the Mahim hospital. On seeing Mahajan's dead body, he moaned, "Uth, Pramod, mee aaloy, uth, majhyakade bol" (Get up, Pramod, I have come to meet you. Get up and talk to me).
Such deep friendship nurtures fickle political alliances.
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