Claws in, swag's on

With his deft leadership in the state and the party, Uddhav Thackeray is redefining Shiv Sena’s hindutva agenda

- DNYANESH JATHAR

ON MARCH 25, Balu Patil, a farmer from Jawala Bazar in Maharashtra’s Hingoli district, sent a truck full of oranges—nine tonnes—to Bengaluru. But as the truck entered Parbhani district, it was stopped by the police, citing the national lockdown. When the driver informed Patil, he tried all means to get the truck moving, but to no avail. Finally, Patil sent a text to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. Within ten minutes, Patil received a call from Krishnakant Upadhyay, superintendent of police, Parbhani district. He told Patil that the truck would be released immediately. Half an hour later, the truck driver called Patil, telling him that the police had granted permission to travel to Bengaluru.

“I had sent a message to the chief minister, urging him to help a farmer in distress. When the police superintendent assured me of all help, I was stunned. I thought he had called to scold me for bothering the chief minister,” Patil told THE WEEK. “That day I realised that the chief minister was really working for farmers’ welfare, and that it was not just lip service.” When Patil thanked Uddhav via a text, he replied with a smiley. This incident shows that Maharashtra’s new chief minister, who had no administrative or legislative experience, has got his priorities right.