The by-election results for two Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra were a mixed bag for the BJP. While the party snuffed out the challenge from its ally-turned-rival Shiv Sena in the prestigious Palghar contest, it was overcome by the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in a classic show of Opposition unity in the Bhandara-Gondia contest, raising fears of tough times ahead in the Lok Sabha elections for the BJP next year. The Palghar fight left the Shiv Sena sulking, blaming it on electronic voting machines and calling for a return to paper ballots. The Bhandara-Gondia result buoyed the spirit of the NCP which has had a lacklustre record in recent times, perhaps fuelling the ambitions of its redoubtable leader, Sharad Pawar, who is nurturing ambitions of being the Opposition’s choice for prime ministerial candidate against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Shiv Sena supremo Uddhav Thackeray raised his pitch for snapping all links with the BJP for the next Assembly and Lok Sabha elections even as Chief Minister Fadnavis talked in conciliatory terms about bringing the Shiv Sena around to fight shoulder to shoulder with the BJP. Uddhav evidently sees merit in pitching in with the combined Opposition and fancies his party’s chances to be better if he does so. The BJP, which is losing allies rather than adding to its strength is keen that the two pro-Hindutva parties swim together in the 2019 Lok Sabha quest. For the BJP, Maharashtra with 48 seats in the Lok Sabha may well be crucial to its success. Having to fight the entire Opposition and the Shiv Sena is hardly a pleasing prospect for the saffron party. With the success in Bhandara-Gondia, the NCP has shown that as part of the Opposition alliance, it would be no pushover. The NCP and the Congress together could pick up a few seats robbing the BJP of them. Much is at stake indeed in the business hub of India.
