Maharashtra Assembly Polls: Alliance Partners Analysing Prospects
In the recently-concluded Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra, Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) secured a remarkable win by securing 29 seats. The MVA comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SCP) has garnered 11, 10, and 8 seats, respectively. Meanwhile, Mahayuti alliance, ruling bloc consisting BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde), and NCP (Ajit Pawar) suffered massive blow. The alliance could grab only 17 seats, and seats counts of BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde), and NCP are 9, 7, and 1 seat, respectively.
As the Assembly elections in the State are just few months away, taking cue from the Lok Sabha polls, the parties started discussions on the seat-sharing arrangements and possible re-configuration with the alliances. There are reports that after the electoral humbling, the saffron party is likely to broke their deal with Ajit Pawar’s NCP and contest forthcoming assembly elections with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena as its ally. In the Lok Sabha polls, Ajit Pawar’s party showcased dismal electoral performance where out of the four seats it contested, party won only one seat. Ajit Pawar joined NDA alliance last year.
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Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) mouthpiece Organiser recently conducted a critical examination of the Lok Sabha polls and stated that results act as a reality check for the “overconfident” saffron party. In the long piece titled ‘Modi 3.0: Conversations for course correction’, Ratan Sharda, a lifelong RSS worker, stated that alliance with Ajit Pawar had reduced the “brand value of BJP” and made it “just another party without any difference.”
“Maharashtra is a prime example of unnecessary politicking and avoidable manipulations. NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar joined BJP though BJP and split Shiv Sena, which had a comfortable majority. BJP supporters were hurt because they had fought against this Congress ideology for years and were persecuted. In a single stroke, BJP reduced its brand value,” the livemint quotes, as Ratan Sharda is saying.
Besides, senior BJP leaders are of the opinion that since RSS-BJP cadres grown by anti-Pawar stance, they struggled to keep the differences aside, since Ajit Pawar joined hands with BJP, and he was made a deputy chief minister in the ruling Mahayuti government. Another leader said that RSS-BJP cadres were reluctant to campaign for NCP candidates and results are reflected in the BJP’s loss of seats.
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On the other hand, there are reports that Shiv Sena (UBT), part of MVA considering on going solo in the assembly polls. As Thackeray analysed party’s performance in the polls, the first election after the split, out of 21 seats it contested they managed to win only nine seats. Following, on Wednesday, Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray convened a meeting and asked the top leaders to submit a report on party’s winning possibility in all 288 seats on its own. It will help Uddhav’s Sena to formulate a plan for the upcoming assembly elections, and devise seat-sharing arrangements with the MVA.
“In that report, each coordinator will submit its views about whether the party could win that seat, if yes, on its own or in alliance with MVA partners. Also the reasons for the same. The coordinators will also report if the party could not win that seat then which alliance partners in the MVA could win that seat and why,” an officer bearer of Shiv Sena (UBT) told the Hindustan Times. Other questions in the report also delved into whether alliance partners in the MVA helped Sena (UBT) candidates in a particular assembly constituency and if Sena (UBT) workers would be willing to work if an alliance partner is contesting in a particular seat. Thereby, Sena chief wanted to know whether his party were able to reap benefits by being part of the three party alliance.
