The immediate trigger for the new line of thought is the Shiv Sena’s decision to appoint two Dalit corporators of the party-ruled Thane Municipal Corporation as chairpersons of important civic committees. Last month, the Sena made Nagsen alias Bhaiyyasaheb Indise as chairperson of the TMC’s Standing Committee and co-opted his nephew Jitendra Indise as the chairperson of the transport committee. Over the past one month, it has led to excitement among the ranks and file of various factions of the Republican Party of India (RPI) across the state, as the Indises are being invited for felicitation functions.

The demand to rethink ties with “secular” parties is simmering in various Dalit groups that are divided into over a dozen factions of the RPI. While none of the RPI leaders have yet come out in the open on the issue and still maintain that they would prefer a “secular” political partner, their angry followers have been urging them to change their ways.

The demand for changing the colour of alliance partners is based on two reasons: that the “secular” parties have never delivered what was promised in return for an alliance; and that the Dalit leadership in Maharashtra would face Mayawati, who has no hesitation in forming alliances with any party, provided she gains power.

“We also have apprehensions that political equations may change on the eve of the Lok Sabha and assembly polls due next year…what happens if the BSP and Sena come together,” a senior party functionary of a major faction of the RPI asked. “If we have to tackle Mayawati, we should adopt her technique of forming alliances with the aim of coming to power…not just playing the second fiddle to the Congress or the NCP. If we don’t, she might beat us by having a tie-up with the Sena or the NCP.”

Among the major RPI factions, the one led by Lok Sabha MP Ramdas Athavale enjoys the largest following of Dalits in the state, followed by the faction led by Prakash Ambedkar, R.S. Gavai and Jogendra Kawade. Since Gavai is the Governor of Bihar, his party is being run by his son Rajendra.

Nagsen Indise, who claims that he has been flooded with calls from various RPI factions, who want the “Indise” pattern to be replicated in the forthcoming polls, said, “We have to be practical…there is no permanent enemy or friend in politics. We have seen what the secular parties have given us all these years…just crumbs of power. There is a need to change old policies, especially considering new challenges.”

He pointed out that the Sena had kept its word and delivered what was promised, unlike the Congress and the NCP, which had failed to keep their promises of sharing power. The TMC has 116 members, with Sena being the single largest party with 48 members. Indise is one of the three Dalit corporators, who were former RPI leaders.

The Sena looks at it as its old dream of bringing together the power of Chhatrapati Shivaji and Ambedkar. “This is our old pattern of bringing Shiv-Shakti (power of Shivaji) and Bhim-Shakti (power of Bhimrao Ambedkar) together. We already have Namdeo Dhasal (one of the founders of Dalit Panthers in 1972) on our side,” said Sanjay Raut, Sena MP and executive editor of the party’s mouthpiece Saamna. “Maharashtra’s true power is Shiv-Shakti and Bhim-Shakti. If we come together, we’ll become invincible.”

The legislative assembly has 288 members, out of which 75 belong to the Congress; 71 NCP; 56 Sena; and 54 BJP. There are two RPI MLAs. Since Dalits have been scattered across the state, without having a concentrated presence (except in a few urban constituencies) to elect their own MLAs, their leaders pledge support to “secular” parties in return for a ministerial berth and some political appointments. The Sena has a strong presence in Marathwada and parts of Konkan.