Will they, won’t they?
In Maharashtra, where political affiliations change frequently, this is always the big question: will the current allies contest the next elections together?
Currently, this question is in vogue once again, as the state counts down to polls across 29 local civic bodies, with Mumbai’s civic body, the BMC, being the biggest of them all.
So, all stakeholders, that is, local politicians, their workers and supporters, voters, and the media, have been keen to find out who will go with whom in these polls.
The estranged Thackeray brothers, Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Uddhav Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray, have signalled a patch-up ahead of these crucial elections.
The two leaders shared the stage after the Maharashtra government withdrew its latest order regarding Hindi to be taught as the third language in school. Then, a few week after that, Raj also visited Matoshree, Uddhav’s residence, after more than a decade on the latter’s birthday.
While the Thackerays seem to be on the path for forging an alliance, Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has surprised many by telling BJP workers that the party is likely to go solo across a majority of the 29 municipal corporations.
But why go solo? Why not take the allies, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the NCP led by another Deputy CM, Ajit Pawar, along? After all, their alliance, Mahayuti, is ruling the state together.
BJP insiders cite several reasons. According to reports, allegations of public misconduct against its Mahayuti partners are a key concern within the BJP. Recently, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat’s video went viral, allegedly showing bags full of cash.
In the case of the other Mahayuti ally, the NCP, party leader and minister Manikrao Kokate called the government a “beggar.” The BJP doesn’t want to be associated with these controversies.The BJP also wants to strengthen its presence in areas where it performed well during the assembly elections. However, its allies too would like to make the most of the civic body polls in pockets they see as their bastions.
For example, in Konkan, BJP’s partner Shiv Sena has a strong presence; in Pune, the NCP dominates. So, local leaders from the BJP and its allies have already been in a war of words over seat-sharing in these regions.
Now, even though CM Devendra Fadnavis has told BJP workers the party will contest the local civic body elections alone, he has also added that it won’t attack its Mahayuti allies, Shiv Sena and the NCP. In fact, he also said the three parties may have friendly fights in some pockets.
Will this resolve stand the election heat? Or will it make tensions within the Mahayuti simmer further? We will get to know over the next few months.
