MUMBAI: As the two Shiv Senas battle it out with the ‘Marathi’ rule for auto and taxi drivers brought in by Shinde Sena and the Sena (UBT)’s opposition to bike taxis, their alliance partners BJP and Congress respectively are wary and trying to do the balancing act.Political observers said the auto rickshaw and taxi drivers’ space is the new battleground for the Senas as they try to score political points. However, the BJP, which enjoys support of migrant taxi and autorickshaw drivers, is upset as the compulsory Marathi diktat and introduction of bike taxis hit the conventional autorickshaw and taxi trade, political observers said.“The Shinde Sena seems to have introduced the Marathi diktat to take on Sena (UBT) and MNS on their Marathi manoos plank, which helped them dent Shinde Sena in the BMC polls. So there is competition between the two Senas to woo Marathi voters, and this is being done through auto and taxi drivers. Sena (UBT) has entered this space by opposing bike taxis. But the moves by both Senas are not going down well with their alliance partners. BJP is particularly not happy with Shinde Sena as most drivers are North Indian and are BJP supporters. So this isn’t going down well with them,” said an observer.The Congress, which is UBT Sena’s ally, has opposed strict enforcement of the Marathi rule. Mumbai Congress chief and MP Varsha Gaikwad had warned the policy threatens drivers’ jobs and economic uplift. Congress MLA Nana Patole had defended linguistic freedom and said people should be allowed to speak any language they choose.Ex-MP Sanjay Nirupam on Monday urged transport minister Pratap Sarnaik to reconsider punitive action against rickshaw drivers who have not yet cleared the Marathi language requirement, arguing livelihoods should not be jeopardised.
