- People closely following the political fortunes in Maharashtra would be eager to know how the matter unfolds in the coming days. The Bharatiya Janata Party is always on the lookout to assume power through its relentless pursuit is quite well-known. The election machinery of the BJP chugs along irrespective of success or failure at the hustings and is also well documented. None of the other political parties are as diligent, persistent, and enthusiastic as the BJP is quite apparent to close observers. The BJP has pursued Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, and some of the northeastern states to assume power. Maharashtra is the latest state to join the ranks of BJP’s continued quest to stay relevant. And we know how the matter has panned out there.
PC: EVM
- Yes, Operation Lotus has essayed a significant role in BJP’s electoral fortunes in more than one way for the saffron brigade. We also know how the Shiv Sena split vertically with the Eknath Shinde-led faction taking along the majority of the legislatures leaving the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction in the doldrums. The fight is on for supremacy, legacy, and survival with both factions claiming the legitimacy of the party. Against this backdrop, the huge crowds at the Dussehra rallies by both factions were a trailer for the big movie – the Bombay Municipal Corporation polls. For the uninitiated, Shinde has the support of at least 40 MLAs and over a dozen MPs. But what is his hold over the cadre? Let’s delve further to understand the same.
- Putting up a good show on Thackeray turf in Mumbai was an important task for Shinde to not only project his legitimacy but also to present optics about delivering the goods to his backers. With that done, both factions await the only test that really matters – electoral performance. In 2017, the Shiv Sena vs BJP battle for BMC saw Sena win by a whisker – 84 to 82 showing how far the saffron brigade had advanced in Mumbai. The Sena split may have made BJP even better placed to target control of India’s richest municipal body. Mind you, Shinde’s stomping ground is neighboring Thane, and as such, his Sena faction may not find it too irksome playing second fiddle to BJP in Mumbai. This is where the game of political smartness will come into play.
PC: AMITABH TIWARI
- Remember, BJP ceding too little to Shinde would play into Uddhav’s refrain that the rebel leader is leading Sena into marginalization. Uddhav, meanwhile, will need all the support Congress and NCP can extend, even though both are marginal players in Mumbai. It appears the BJP-Shinde government is likely to serve out the assembly’s term. However, Shinde has to deliver the Sena votes to the alliance in line with the expectations of the BJP. Otherwise, the BJP, which saw the implosion of Maha Vikas Aghadi as a major political victory, may have to go back to the drawing board for its 2024 strategy. Nonetheless, the BJP led by the shrewd Devendra Phadnavis has positioned itself nicely and appears all set to reap the rewards in Maharashtra.
