In battle for Mumbai corporation, Shinde, BJP try to undercut Sena by luring Govinda troupes

With Dahi Handi being recognized as a sport, Govindas will become eligible for a quota in government jobs

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s announcement that Dahi Handi will be recognized as an adventure sport has drawn criticism, but it is also being seen as an attempt to cut into the base of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena ahead of Mumbai civic polls.

With Dahi Handi being recognized as a sport, its participants, popularly called ‘Govindas’, will become eligible for a quota in government jobs. Activists and political commentators ridiculed the move on Friday while political parties were muted in their opposition.

But the decision puts the Thackeray faction of the Sena in a quandary, because the Govinda troupes, made up predominantly of lower-middle class Marathi-speaking youngsters, come from its traditional support base.

Also read:We broke a tough Dahi Handi in June, says Maharashtra CM Shinde

Mr. Shinde, who started his political career as an ordinary Shiv Sena worker in neighbouring Thane and rose through the ranks, rebelled against Thackeray in June this year and brought down the Thackeray-led Sena-NCP-Congress government in Maharashtra.

Mr. Shinde then became Chief Minister with the support of rebel Sena MLAs and the BJP.

The upcoming elections to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, the country’s richest civic body, will be a do-or-die affair for the Uddhav-led faction. The Sena has been in power in the BMC for several years.