Sena’s bargaining chip up after BJP’s drubbing

Mumbai: The drubbing of BJP in the by-elections could be a major boost for Shiv Sena amidst the ongoing tussle on seat-sharing for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections. Taunting BJP, Sena in its editorial in Saamna has cautioned the former for taking “votes for granted”. “only those who take lessons from by-polls will win in Maharashtra,” said Sena.

Analysing BJP’s losses in crucial by-elections on Tuesday, the Sena editorial has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and says he should not be blamed for his party’s performance. “The by-election results are a lesson for the Maharashtra elections,” the Saamna said, adding, “Don’t let success go to your head, keep your feet on the ground.”
 

The sub-text of that warning is that while Modi undoubtedly scripted the BJP-led NDA’s spectacular victory in national elections just four months ago, BJP cannot count on what it calls the “Modi wave” to win the Maharashtra elections next month. “Each election comes with its tides and tides change after every election. Vidhan Sabha elections cannot be fought on the basis of the Lok Sabha wave,” the editorial said.  

In Maharashtra, where BJP is in the midst of some tough negotiations with Shiv Sena over seat-sharing, these results will certainly strengthen the Sena’s bargaining position. For BJP, the results, as senior leader Rameswar Chourasia correctly said, should be seen as a “blessing in disguise, an eye-opener”.

Sena and BJP, allies for 25 years, are engaged in a tussle over seat-sharing. BJP argues that its superior performance in the national elections has earned it the right to an equal number of seats to contest. Sena insists that it must continue to be the senior partner in the state and contest more seats.

Negotiations are at a standstill after Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray seemed to question whether there is a “Modi wave.” Sena sources said the by-election results vindicate his remarks.

The setback has sent BJP into a huddle. Senior leaders met at Union Minister Nitin Gadkari’s residence in the capital on Tuesday and Gadkari is also expected to be present at Amit Shah’s meeting in Mumbai on Wednesday.
 

Shah is expected to discuss with state leaders how to take seat-sharing talks forward with Sena. The stakes are high as the party with the most legislators will have the bigger claim to the Chief Minister’s post if the alliance wins.