The similarities cannot be overlooked when both the UPA led by Manmohan Singh and the democratic Front in Maharashtra led by Prithviraj Chavan go to the polls next year. Both led by silently, and uniquely, quiet and soft-spoken leaders, they face charges of corruption and irregularities diametrically opposed to their leaders’ image, a sort of disunited opposition aiming barbs from different tangents and a opposition leader distinctly etched in public perception to stake claims for the top post post-election.

While it’s Narendra Modi for the Congress at the centre, for the Congress-NCP combo in Maharashtra, it’s emerging in the form of Raj Thackeray more markedly with each passing public rally or address by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief. Not surprisingly, the two leaders themselves are said to enjoy camaraderie and share mutual respect.

Thackeray, in fact, could be said to be the Modi of circa 2002: vitriolic and witty, raucous and raging, and sounding confident and caring at the same time, he is packing a punch and is unafraid to land it anywhere he deems fit. A lot like Modi of yore, before the Gujarat chief minister began attempting his statesmanlike makeover.

And like Modi successfully circumvented other aspirants in Gujarat for the BJP’s top post, Thackeray, too, is emerging as the unquestioned leader to the Congress-NCP might in public imagination by largely avoiding taking potshots at cousin Uddhav, that other contender for that slot lying vacant after Bal Thackeray’s death. Instead, as he has shown over the months, especially his recent tours of Maharashtra districts, and including his rally at Amravati on Sunday to end his 10-day tour of Vidarbha, he is gunning for the top, aiming upper-cuts at CM Prithviraj Chavan and his deputy, Ajit Pawar.

Picking on Chavan, Thackeray said, "This man was chosen by Sonia Gandhi. And he gives interviews expressing helplessness about everything and citing coalition compulsions. Nothing makes a difference to the thick-skinned.” Sounds of Modi in the bluster?

And like the rabble-rouser and streetfighter rolled into one and fastened to the halo of a saviour, he thundered, "This Raj Thackeray is standing before you as an option. When polls come, don't get confused. Else, nobody would be able to save you.” This, of course, was preceded by his attacks on NCP strongman Ajit Pawar almost throughout his tours of Marathwada and Vidarbha, leading to scraps between NCP and MNS workers on multiple occasions and high court notices on both on a PIL for delivering hate speech.

Like Modi, Thackeray seems to know and recognise his enemies well, and therefore manages to let out his carps, barbs and punches with more focus.

Contrast that with Uddhav’s generalist tone at Bhiwandi, near Mumbai, last week: "Corruption has become rampant in the Congress-NCP government, which is making all efforts to divert people's attention from important issues… People should vote out the ruling coalition in the next election and bring back the Sena-led opposition to power.”

While Uddhav was never held as a good, passionate speaker and Raj was said to be Bal Thackeray’s real successor, at least on the rhetoric front, this was visibly and audibly poor. What the unemployed Maharashtrian youth and the general populace generally disenchanted with losing the upper crusts of not only Mumbai, and increasingly Pune, but some of the other big cities as well, want is to be given a sound reason in harbouring and nursing enough hate for the ruling front to make them take a 180-degree turn on the poll day and bring in a relative newcomer with a big mouth. They need to be told the logic behind lumpenism, and assured that they could dare to bare their fangs without the need to look askance.

The last thing they need is harangue on governance and the lack of it.

In that, Raj Thackeray has been far quicker off the blocks than his cousin, despite the much bigger infrastructure and influence of the latter’s party. Like Modi, he has shown the cheek to identify the cheeks on which to aim his punches. Whether they land on target or not is a different story, but for now it’s all about the decibel level.