It is not easy to gauge the depths of Modi’s politics. In the Mumbai election campaign, he is talking endlessly about how he will respect his friendship with Bala Saheb and not say a word against Sena. But those close to him are not holding the punches while talking about Sena. Sources close to Modi talk about how in 2002, when Modi had been invited by the Gujarati community in Mumbai as well as the BJP’s arm in Maharashtra, and then the entire Mumbai was peppered with posters carrying blow-ups of Modi, saying ‘Hindu Hridaya Samrat’. This allegedly didn’t go down well with Bala Saheb Thackeray. He called then prominent BJP leader Pramod Mahajan and complained to him; the posters were taken down the same night. Obviously, Thackeray did not like anyone else being given the ‘Hindu Hridaya Samrat’ title of anyone else. Seeds of bitterness started emerging between Modi and Thackeray and the result was Thackeray going on record saying Sushma Swaraj was the better candidate for prime minister from the NDA. Something must have also been in Modi’s heart that he did not even go for Thackeray’s last rites after his death in 2012. Which means that the bond between the BJP and Sena had developed cracks long ago; His Master’s Voice Amit Shah has only beaten the last nail in the coffin.