Maharashtra Congress not enthused over Smita Thackeray's desire to join party

Even though Smita Thackeray, daughter-in-law of Shiv Sena patriarch Bal Thackeray, has expressed her desire to join the Congress, the party’s Maharashtra unit has left the decision before the central high command.

Though Smita did not share the Sena platform quite often, she was furious since the party dumped her and nominated a Marathi journalist as the party candidate for the Rajya Sabha elections held last year. Currently, Smita is a chairperson of the Mukti Foundation, which is engaged in campaigning against AIDS and drug abuse.

A senior functionary of the state unit of the Congress, who did not want to be quoted, told Business Standard: “Smita had become one of the power centres during the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance rule (1995-99). Smita had a say in political, administrative and financial matters during that time after the Sena supremo. However, she was never active in the Shiv Sena then and even now.

The Congress leader noted that Smita’s entry would not help the party much as she lacks the mass following. Besides, her leadership qualities were never tested. Therefore, the Congress’ central high command would be the final authority to take a call on Smita’s wish to join the party.

However, the Congress functionary was quite categorical in his observation that Smita could not be considered for the Rajya Sabhya nomination bypassing party loyalists. The election to the Rajya Sabha is due in July next year and the party members fear Smita may use her clout to get the party nomination with a sole objective to score brownie points with the Thackerays.

Meanwhile, Smita’s decision to join the Congress has surprised her supporters in the business community and industry and also in non-government organisations as she may have preferred the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena led by Raj Thackeray in view of her proximity with Raj.