Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena MP and executive editor of Sena mouthpiece Saamna told Mint that Sena was “quite obviously the most popular party in Maharashtra with the best connect with people and their issues. Prakash Pawar, professor of political science at Kolhapur’s Shivaji University, thinks the Shiv Sena would benefit the most from the Maratha anger. On the ground, the Shiv Sena has got the machinery to channelize this anger. “In Marathwada then, the Sena built on the Maratha versus Dalit narrative and large sections of Marathas, who were already economically backward, moved to Shiv Sena,” Pawar recalled. Sanjay Raut said the Sena had never practised “caste-politics” but added the Maratha protest represented discontent due to several factors.

Source: Mint September 15, 2016 13:52 UTC