On the subject of not taking too nicely to defeat, Bal Thackeray has something to say :
Upset over the poor show of the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance in traditional strongholds of Mumbai and Thane, Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Monday said the ‘Marathi manoos’ should explain reasons for not voting for the party.
Firstly, I too am annoyed at the ‘Marathi manoos‘. Not voting for the Sena is not only disrespectful to the party that originally beat up migrants, it is also disrespectful to the millions of shards of glass windows from McDonald and Pizza Hut outlets, apart from a few thousand cards that were respectfully cremated by them. And we all know our culture teaches us to respect the deceased.
But yes, I am annoyed at the Shiv Sena for blaming the ‘Marathi manoos‘. The statement directly challenges the intelligence of the voter. Are they suggesting the voter doesn’t have the sense to see for himself who beat up more people before deciding whom to vote for ? I would be quite annoyed if I were the voter.
The statement also adds :
The Marathi voter, who strayed away from the Sena, should explain to us why he did so and what harm had Shiv Sena done to him, Thackeray said.
I think leaders are answerable to the people and not vice versa, but of course, I have been wrong sometimes.
let’s first ask the original Marathi Manoos why he missed casting his own vote…
Unwell is not a good enough reason…
is not not coz there was no Shiv Sainik standing from his constituency??
By: alltalkandnoaction on May 19, 2009
at 8:04 pm
@alltalkandnoaction : I am not sure I get your point .. or vice versa.
By: Deepak Iyer on May 19, 2009
at 8:06 pm
Bal Thackeray should first answer why he didn’t vote at all…
Then ask why people didn’t vote for Sena…
Reports said he was unwell…However, it seems he was dis-interested since Jethmalani (BJP candidate) was standing from his area…
By: alltalkandnoaction on May 19, 2009
at 9:14 pm
@alltalkandnoaction : Oh okay. This is news to me too. Can you please share the link ?
But from what I have seen of parties like the Shiv Sena and MNS, I personally wouldn’t expect sense or rationality from them. And this statement from Bal Thackeray is more out of frustration than anything else. The Shiv Sena is pretty much clueless about getting back those 14 lakh votes that went for the MNS.
Still on this subject, I think the runup to the assembly polls is going to be very interesting in Maharashtra. Given the Congress’s preference of going alone, the BJP’s wooing of the MNS, the Shiv Sena’s frustration with the MNS, things are going to be volatile.
We seriously need a change from the Congress-NCP combine but, unfortunately, we have no options.
By: Deepak Iyer on May 19, 2009
at 9:25 pm
Cant find the link. But it was reported in TOI and other papers…Seems he had a sore throat and was unable to speak even for meetings/intws…
Yup assembly elections are going to be killer…Just hoping that we don’t go from the pan (with Sena)..into Fire (with MNS)…
bjp allying with the MNS would be a major put off !
By: alltalkandnoaction on May 19, 2009
at 9:49 pm
@alltalkandnoaction : A sore throat is what happens when you spew venom [:D].
Just a sec, are you in the BJP ??
By: Deepak Iyer on May 19, 2009
at 9:54 pm
Not ‘in” it yet
By: alltalkandnoaction on May 19, 2009
at 9:57 pm
I asked as the usage of ‘we’ was strange.
But yeah, you are going to go with the MNS someday soon .
By: Deepak Iyer on May 19, 2009
at 10:05 pm
Ya..I tend to talk about BJP using the word “we”..
Am a supporter…
Just hoping better sense prevails…
By: alltalkandnoaction on May 19, 2009
at 10:13 pm
[...] the symbol. While losers (in the Indian elections) have generally blamed voters, Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) has come up with the most ingenious of blames [...]
By: Blame the symbol. « News You Can’t Use ! on May 27, 2009
at 9:28 am