Will it be BJP’s ‘Mungerilal ke Sapane’ or Thackeray Sarkar will collapse in November?

Due to financial crisis inflicted by the Covid-19 pandemic, people may not burst firecrackers this Diwali, but in state and national politics, there are possibilities of political firecrackers in terms of change in government in Maharashtra and change in the guard of regional political outfit based in Maharashtra at the national level.

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Mumbai: Away from power in Maharashtra, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has once again allegedly started planting news that come November the Thackeray Sarkar will be ousted from power and the saffron party will take over the reins possibly with the direct support of ‘Dada’. The ‘mahurat’ for this political turnaround has been scheduled for November after the Bihar assembly election results are announced.

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Sources from Mumbai and Delhi have a near unanimous prediction about Maharashtra’s possible political game. 

Sources said the top leadership of BJP believes that the perception of the state government among people is negative as they have failed on various fronts. However, the BJP state leadership so far has not been able to capitalise the situation to pull down the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government led by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

“Central leadership of the BJP has given instructions to state leaders to do anything to bring down the Thackeray Sarkar in November. Try to poach legislators from all three ruling parties to achieve the magic figure of 145 – to prove majority in the Lower House and to eventually bring BJP to power, ” claimed one of the BJP leaders based in Delhi.

Former senior BJP minister in the state also confirmed that his party will complete the task which was scheduled in March this year. “It was March when the Thackeray government was to be brought down, but due to the Corona pandemic we had to postpone our plan,” asserted the former BJP minister.

He claimed that there is ‘Jyotiraditya Scindia’ in Maharashtra Congress who will join the BJP with MLAs supporting him. The BJP leader did not disclose the name of that Congress leader who is eager to join the saffron party at the cost of sacrificing his ministerial berth and putting his political future in uncertainty.

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A leader close to Shiv Sena in Delhi also claimed that there are whispers in the corridor of the national capital that the BJP is in a hurry to come to power in Maharashtra. “One of the ‘old friends’ of BJP from the ruling party is in contact with the Central leadership. He will join the BJP instead of making a separate group within the party,” claimed the Sena insider.

Who are the rebel leaders?

A leader in Congress is miffed with the MVA government for being given the insignificant portfolio by CM Thackeray and is most likely to shift his allegiance to the BJP government. In political circles, he is known as a close friend of Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil.

Another firebrand leader who may jump the boat has the support of 14 legislators as of today and he may also succeed in bringing two more legislators on board. The BJP sources claimed he will join the party “The MLAs or sitting ministers who will join the BJP with their boss, have the capacity to win the election on their own. There are some big names who are willing to follow the path of their boss,” the BJP leader said.

The NCP insider asserted that some leaders in the party are disgruntled. “This will not be enough for MLAs to leave the party and join the BJP.  State party president, Jayant Patil and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar are doing a tremendous job. All the MLAs are happy as their work related to their respective constituency is done swiftly. There is no reason for the split in the party, we are intact,” claimed the NCP insider.

Why only in November?

The Bihar assembly polls are expected in November. Devendra Fadnavis, Leader of Opposition from Maharashtra Assembly is in charge of the party in Bihar. The poll reports from Bihar predict that the BJP may gain more seats than its ally Janata Dal (United) led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Learning from their experience in Maharashtra, the central leaders of BJP have assured Nitish Kumar that even though they may gain more but the chief ministership will remain with the JDU boss. After Bihar result, BJP is more likely to play the political game in Maharashtra and try to dethrone the Thackeray government.

One more possibility

After the ongoing Parliament session, there would be a reshuffle in the Union Cabinet. Fadnavis is expected to be inducted as the Union Finance minister. Bihar is the route for Fadnavis to shift to national politics. The political drama in Maharashtra is expected to be played under the leadership of Chandrakant Patil and Sudhir Mungantiwar.