Mumbai:
This election Raj Thackeray's party, the MNS took on the Tiger in his own den. His party cut into the saffron vote, and the Sena-BJP lost every seat in its old bastion Mumbai.
Now, at the Shiv Sena's
shakhas or branches this is how the party's cadres are coping with the blow.
The mood is grim at the Shiv Sena
shakha in Dadar, Mumbai's Marathi heartland - a Shiv Sena bastion now breached by Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.
It's not just here. MNS candidates polled over a lakh votes in all six Mumbai seats leading to the defeat of the Sena-BJP.
Sena cadres are still coming to terms with the shock.
"Raj Thackeray speaks like Bal Thackeray, perhaps that's why people got attracted towards him," said a Shiv Sainik.
Older
sainiks are also concerned that now their children will opt for the MNS, which has aggressively taken over the sons of the soil agenda.
"There could be some young
sainiks who have now started to feel that they must join the MNS," put forth another Shiv Sainik.
At the MNS headquarters, just across the road it is virtually a victory march.
Raj Thackeray's men are gloating after bearding the Tiger in his own den. Their next target is the assembly polls.
"The Marathi people are one's monopoly. We will work to further our cause and party," said Yashwant Killedar, a MNS worker.
Just a lane after the Shiv Sena Bhavan is the MNS headquarter - Rajgadh. And perhaps it is at this junction that the next battle for the Marathi votes will be fought.