THE ECONOMY-Structural Links

Centre felt that certain forms of regressive , communal organisations are far less threatening than others.
By the early 1970s it was dear that the Sena had two sources of power : one, the support of a section of the lower middle class Marathi-speaking population of the city in whose name it ruled the streets; the second, and far more vital to the party, was the power it exercised as an arm of the ruling party and establishment. Which of the two it relied on more became clear gradually and at first in the municipal corporation. Civic politics had dictated agreements of various kinds between the Sena and other opposition parties like the Socialist party, Jan Sangh etc. But time and time again these arrangements were overturned by diktat from Sena headquarters, usually in favour of Congress, Similar incidents took place during the Assembly elections. Large scale dissatisfaction within and outside the Sena dates from this period. As it was committing itself more and more to acting as, the Congress' stormtroopers it lost touch with more and more of its supporters. Its insensitivity to its base was clear when it opposed the first state government employees strike.