After Bal Thackeray, who?

New Delhi: The jury is still out as to who will rule the hearts and minds of Shiv Sena supporters throughout Maharashtra after the sad demise of Shiv Sena patriarch Bal Thackeray. Will it be son Udhav or nephew Raj?Bal Thackeray used to wield incredible power not only over his party but over a large number of apolitical Maharashtrians, who loved his oratory and his cutting-edge remarks against opponents, real and imaginary.The tussle between Raj and Udhav Thackeray's supporters seven years ago has now opened up the possibilities of a no-holds-barred scuffle for the Shiva Sena supremo's legacy. So long as Bal Thackeray was alive, Raj never dared to speak against him and listened to him with deference.But, Bal Thackeray's demise has put Shiv Sena's future on a tryout and put its comfortable position as Maharashtra's principal and largest opposition party in jeopardy. It was Bal Thackeray who acted as a magnet to all anti-Congress forces in Maharashtra, while allying with the national Bharatiya Janata Party. The alliance with BJP still holds, but both Shiv Sena and BJP workers are watching with trepidation the future course of the supremo's anointed successor Udhav.The formation of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) in 2005 by Raj Thackeray, intensified the dispute between the Thackeray cousins and there are hardly any signs of their reunification, unless, of course, if Raj changes his mind and agrees to play second fiddle to Udhav and his associates, which looks almost impossible.On the other hand, Udhav Thackeray has got a lot of weak spots to look after. Despite enjoying his office as second-in command, the single-point of contact for all major party decisions till now was always with Bal Thackeray.The Shiv Sena patriarch always believed in an unassisted rule and never showed trust on any other party leader for major decisions. He single-handedly led the party along and managed to keep his flock intact despite Raj's MNS. Ask Chhagan Bhujbal and Narayan Rane, who broke away from the Shiv Sena, and the party didn't suffer a scratch. Will Udhav Thackeray be able to do the same, that is, single-handedly rule his party? Will Udhav sway the Marathi crowds that used to converge to Shivaji Park only to hear his father? Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has been a strong ally of Shiv Sena, has, of late, been seen taking tentative steps for forging a tie-up with Raj Thackeray's MNS, of course, with reservations over the UP-Bihar migrants issue, on which Raj has always taken a strident stand. The earnest greetings that Raj Thackeray received from BJP's up-and-coming Prime ministerial aspirant Narendra Modi on his visit to Gujarat, has added to the desolation of the Shiv Sena heir who lacks the potential to upkeep the relations with BJP which his father had established.Will Udhav Thackeray be able to hold the party together sans his father's charm? Time will tell.