Though Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde called Prime Minister Narendra Modi to assure him that he would accept his decision on the next Maharashtra Chief Minister and would not be a hurdle in government formation, media reports suggest he may not settle for the role of the Deputy Chief Minister. The BJP is most likely to offer 12 berths in the council of ministers, including the office of Deputy Chief Minister, the Shinde-led party may remain angry and its most important leader may choose to remain out of the government.

Did BJP Backstab Shiv Sena?

Shiv Sena has claimed that the saffron party had agreed to allot the office of the Chief Minister to it if Mahayuti won the assembly election. The party is angry that the BJP has gone back from its pre-poll promise because it received the maximum number of seats.

Political analysts believe any bickering within the ruling coalition may prove politically suicidal for the saffron party as the Shiv Sena may accuse it of backstabbing. It may also rake up the issue of insult to Maratha, the dominating community that constitutes about 23% population of the state.

NCP Backs BJP

It is interesting to note that the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar) supported the BJP on its decision of the CM immediately after the results of the assembly elections were declared. It was much ahead of any conversation or dispute on the issue. Political analysts believe the Ajit Pawar-led party has its own design and political target for this move.

Political Game Plan

The NCP believes that if the office of the Chief Minister goes to Shiv Sena, the latter will have much scope to carry out the development projects, iand mplement government schemes in its own constituencies, further boosting their political graph. It does not want to give the party the edge of better work.

BJP too does not want this to happen as it does not want to give its coalition party an opportunity to increase its popularity and footprint.

The Numbers!

The election results too are in favour of the saffron party. While the BJP won 132 seats, Shiv Sena was limited to 57 and the NCP managed to win just 41 seats. As the magic figure of majority in the 288-member house in 145, the saffron party is just 13 short of it.

‘Operation Lotus’ In Maharashtra?

Going by the records of the saffron party and the controversial Operation Lotus, it may try to engineer a split in Shiv Sena or the NCP or both. Political analysts believe, if Eknath Shinde creates too much trouble for the party, the BJP may try a split that party. Considering this harsh reality, Shinde is not likely to put pressure on its senior coalition party. This may be one of the reasons for his announcement publicly that he would not put any hurdles in the government formation in Maharashtra.

Maratha Conundrum

Shiv Sena can claim that it has attracted the Maratha voters, the community that dominates the political scenario of the country. But it is also a fact that the consolidation of non-Maratha votes has made the victory easier for the Mahayuti as the opposition alliance of MVA depended on the Maratha voters. The BJP would not like to risk these non-Marath communities, particularly those belonging to the OBC.

Shiv Sena will not be able to disturb the BJP, rather it should keep its flock together.