On Wednesday, the Shiv Sena (UBT) urged TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu and JDU’s Nitish Kumar to recall their past experiences with the BJP and consider whether they want to align with an “autocrat”. The backing of these two leaders will be crucial for forming the next NDA government following the Lok Sabha election results.

Sena leader Arvind Sawant emphasized that Chandrababu Naidu should remember how the BJP treated him, highlighting that not a single penny was given to Naidu for developing Amravati as the capital. He also pointed out that Nitish Kumar should recall his own experiences with the BJP. Sawant expressed hope for forming the government, noting that the BJP’s rhetoric has shifted from “BJP 400-plus” to “NDA.” He mentioned that if needed, Uddhav Thackeray would come to Delhi.

Raut, speaking to reporters earlier, stated that his party would not oppose if Congress leader Rahul Gandhi decides to lead the INDIA bloc government and become the prime ministerial candidate. He added that alliance leaders will meet in New Delhi on Wednesday to discuss the next steps.

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Raut also asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should acknowledge his moral defeat since his party did not secure a majority to form the government, indicating that the Modi brand is now finished. He remarked that Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar must decide if they want to align with an autocrat or work within a democratic system, expressing doubt that they would choose the former. Raut added, “Modi ji is not forming a government for the third time.”

Uddhav emerged as the face of the opposition’s Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which includes the Congress and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP. Previously criticized for not stepping out of his house in Mumbai’s Bandra area, Uddhav criss-crossed the state in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, drawing huge crowds to his rallies.

In the seat-sharing deal with the allies, Uddhav Thackeray secured the largest chunk of 21 out of 48 seats in Maharashtra. He managed to win three out of the four seats in Mumbai, but lost Raigad, Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg, Thane, and Kalyan. His victory in Mumbai demonstrated that the party cadre was still loyal to him, but this support was not as strong in the rest of the Konkan region.

On Tuesday, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) won 30 out of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra. The Congress made a significant leap by winning 13 seats, a considerable increase from the solitary seat it secured in the state in 2019. The Shiv Sena (UBT) won nine seats, and the NCP, led by Sharad Pawar, secured eight seats. On the other hand, the BJP and its allies managed to win 17 seats.

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