With BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis taking oath as the Chief Minister and one each from the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party as his deputies, Maharashtra seems to have entered into a new political phase, with changed dynamics, narratives, priorities and realities. A new Maharashtra may emerge. 

Fadvnavis will rule the state for the third time, but his mandate and perspective of governance may be different.

Stronger BJP To Follow Aggressive Hindutva?

With a clear mandate of 132 seats in the 288-member assembly and the support of five independent members, the saffron party is in a much stronger and better condition than ever before.

Also Read: Can BJP Cement Its Dominance In Maharashtra’s Political Landscape By Marginalising Shiv Sena?

Political observers believe the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena with 57 members and the NCP with 41 seats can neither impose their wishes nor implement their programme or promises made in their election manifestoes. These parties cannot put any kind of pressure on the Chief Minister either.

Saffronisation Of Governance?

This will give an open hand to Devendra Fadnavis to do whatever he wishes and encourage him to implement the Hindutva agenda with a vengeance.

The Shiv Sena may not oppose any kind of saffronisation of the governance because of its own brand of politics, that its tilt toward Hindutva, though of a milder type.

Also Read: Marathas, Non-Marathas, And Maharashtra’s Political Chessboard: BJP Faces Tough Choices
With 41 members in the house, the NCP will not be in a position to put a hurdle in the way of Hindutva-driven policies even it wants to do so.

Will NCP Join BJP’s Hand?

Analysts believe the Ajit Pawar-led party may focus on weakening the Shiv Sena and join hands with the BJP in its attempt to eat into its support base and gobble up its votes.

One of the ways of doing it may be to get the bigger chunk of government-sponsored schemes into the constituencies of its influence so that those under the control of the Eknath Shinde-led party are asphyxiated.

Shiv Sena UBT Stands Decimated

With just 20 seats in the 288-member house, Shiv Sena UBT stands decimated with most of its constituencies being usurped by the rival faction led by Eknath Shinde.

As the Uddhava Thackeray-led party has made it clear, it is most likely to quit the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi and go back to its own old and time-tested politics with a strong plank of Hindutva.

While licking its wounds, the party known for the high decibel pitch of Bala Saheb Thackeray, has reasons to leave behind its attempts to don an all-inclusive look by wooing the Muslims, the OBCs and Dalits.

Wooing Muslims Goes Wrong For Shiv Sena UBT?

In an attempt to be a party acceptable to the Muslims, Uddhav Thackeray went to the extent of apologising for the alleged role of his party cadres in the communal riots and the demolition of the disputed site of Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi Temple at Ayodhya.

It may be recalled that Bala Saheb Thackeray said that he would be happy if the Shiv Sainik had played a role in the demolition of the sixteenth-century structure.

The strategy of Uddhava Thackeray fell flat with the party winning just 21 seats in the house of 288, making it ineligible for getting the position of the Leader of Opposition. With less than 10% of the popular votes, the party seems to have lost its appeal to the masses.

Will Shiv Sena UBT Go Back To Aggressive Hindutva?

Political analysts believe Shiv Sena UBT is most likely to go back to its root of aggressive Hindutva to challenge the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led party so that it could regain its lost ground.

This may take Maharashtra to a different route, a different path, full of rhetoric against the Muslims as expressed by the “Batenge Toh Katenge” slogan raised by the saffron party during the election campaign.

Will Maharashtra go back to the days of Bala Saheb Thackeray or even worse?