The BJP is caught in a cleft-stick, thanks to a fractured mandate in assembly elections of the Indian state of Maharashtra.
With no political party securing clear majority, a period of political instability looms ahead in Maharashtra.
Hectic politicking has started in the Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the possibility of cobbling up a workable alliance — against the backdrop of the rancour developed in the past one month between the 25-year-old former allies.
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray yesterday met with newly elected party legislators at Sena Bhavan to decide the future course of action.
“We have accepted the verdict of the people,” Sena leader Sanjay Raut told mediapersons after the meeting.
“No decision has been taken yet on alliance with BJP,” Sanjay Raut said. MLAs have given Uddhav Thackeray right to elect leader of legislature, Sanjay Raut said.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar also met with his party MLAs in Mumbai.
Despite emerging as the single-largest party with 123 (122+1 ally) seats, the BJP faces a predicament here — it cannot form the government nor does it want to sit in opposition.
It will be entirely dependent on a demanding and belligerent opposition for pushing through any policy initiatives or major decisions, though the prime BJP chief ministerial contender Devendra Fadnavis is considered an aggressive go-getter.
While the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) provided some relief with an offer of unconditional external support, this may come with many hidden strings attached, besides growls from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
One option would be to approach the Sena, but its chief Uddhav Thackeray’s body-language on Sunday evening was unnerving for the harangued BJP. For, the BJP has already said the CM post is non-negotiable, and they would not have the post of deputy CM — and, according to some speculation, it may offer the Sena at best five ministeries.
“In such a scenario, what attraction is left for us to support or join them,” wondered a senior Sena leader yesterday.
Sunday’s outcome shows that the numbers game has become tricky on all fronts with many distinct possibilities emerging.
The BJP needs minimum 22 seats for a simple majority — with the NCP’s 41, it crosses the minimum threshold limits easily. In another potential scenario, if the Congress (42) and NCP (41) were to unite and offer ‘outside support’ to Sena (63), the three together achieve the magic figure of 146.
Some smaller parties and independents may also follow suit since all had one objective of keeping the “BJP out” at all costs.
The Congress is no stranger to such politics — it had tried out short-term external support several times to prop up various central governments from Charan Singh, VP Singh, Chandrashekhar, HD Deve Gowda, IK Gujral.
