Uddhav furthers ties with MVA in civic polls

Seals fate of ticket aspirants 

Offers BJP chance to reclaim lost ground

By Ashwin Aghor

Mumbai:

Bowled over by his benefactor, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar politics, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray seems to have decided to return the favor by furthering the Sena ties with his new found Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies – Congress and the NCP and cementing those ties for the ongoing Zilla Parishad polls. Thackeray’s return gift for Congress-NCP seems to be pinching party aspirants and the defeated. His actions seem to be offering his estranged ally the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) a chance to regroup and make a strong bid for power in Maharashtra.

The Sena president may have kept the promise he made to his late father, Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray of installing a Shiv Sainik as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. He may have made it possible by joining hands with the Congress and the NCP in forging the MVA and installing himself as the Chief Minister and the NCP just helped him in keeping that promise he had made to his late father.

The MVA is contesting the ongoing Zilla Parishad elections at Dhule, Akola, Washim, Nandurbar and Palghar. Although, Thackeray may wish that he remains in power for as long as he can, he seems to have forgotten the fact that as long as Sena continues its alliance with the MVA, it will steadily erode the base of his party as many of the party leaders would not be able to contest any elections in the future.

His decision to further cement Sena’s ties with his new found MVA allies is bound to seal the fate of ticket aspirants and those who have tasted defeat in the recent Lok Sabha and Assembly elections against these very MVA allies. It is highly unlikely that their victors in the Congress, NCP will be that generous towards them in relinquishing their claims on the seats they had won. The Sena contested 124 out of 288 Assembly seats in the state in alliance with BJP. Out of these 124, it could manage to win 56 seats and lost 68.

These 68 party leaders have nowhere to go now. The future of Sena leaders such as Vijay Shivtare who lost to Sanjay Chandukaka Jagtap of Congress is in dark as no one can assure him that this seat will be given to the Sena in next elections. Similarly, Suresh Gore of Shiv Sena lost to Dilip Mohite of NCP. Shivtare and Gore are just two among 68 who are staring at the sudden demise of their political career.

By aligning with Congress-NCP,  the Sena appears to have hit the proverbial last death nail in the coffin of its loyal leaders, and has paved way for BJP to grow at the cost of its own constituency. For these leaders, if wish to remain in politics they have no option but to join BJP.

Former, Lok Sabha MP from Shirur, Shivajirao Adhalrao Patil who lost to NPC’s Amol Kolhe is the biggest loser of them all. His political career has abruptly come to an end, as NCP and Kolhe is highly unlikely to ever let go the seat. Right now the Sena seems to be least bothered about the long term effects of the alliance as it is leading the government at present.

It is not ready to even give a thought to it now. “The seat sharing issues are with every alliance. They will be dealt with when time comes. At present our priority is to sustain the government for five years. The question of disgruntled leaders will arise only at the time of elections. We will cross the bridge when it comes,” said Shiv Sena spokesperson Manisha Kayande. 

While the Sena is in for a major setback, its former ally BJP can hope to achieve its target of 145 plus in next elections, if it grabs the constituencies where Shiv Sena has lost. The BJP can grow by wooing the defeated Sena candidates, making the Sena struggle even to retain the 56 seats it won in this 2019 elections.

The BJP had contested 150 assembly seats and won 105. It lost 45 seats, many of which were lost by margin ranging from 200 to 1000 votes. If it manages to cover the gap and salvage around 15 seats out of them, it will comfortably cross the 145 mark. The main battle during next Assembly elections would be between BJP and NCP, while Congress and Sena will have to settle for the number three and four slots. 

Joint chief spokesperson, state BJP Keshav Upadhye said, “We have been of the firm opinion that MVA is the unholy alliance of power hungry parties. They have insulted their own cadre, leave alone the voters. The relationship of the allies in this tripod of a government is bound to complicate in days to come. We will strengthen our base among the masses and the difference will be visible soon.”