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Eknath Shinde as Maharashtra CM: A BJP masterstroke to checkmate Uddhav Thackeray? | India Information

Eknath Shinde as Maharashtra CM: A BJP masterstroke to checkmate Uddhav Thackeray? | India Information

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NEW DELHI: In 2019, the National Democratic Alliance in Maharashtra collapsed on a bitter notice following the assembly elections for the reason that the BJP was not all set to settle for Shiv Sena’s declare to the submit of chief minister.
Two and a 50 percent years later, the BJP has accomplished just that. It has installed a rebel Shiv Sainik, Eknath Shinde, as the chief minister of the point out.
And not just that, the BJP has also “asked for” its personal chief Devendra Fadnavis, who was the party’s chief minister from 2014 to 2019, to do the job as a deputy to Shinde.
The double twist in the Maharashtra tale is not just astonishing but also intriguing.

2019 vs 2022
When Uddhav Thackeray broke Shiv Sena’s decades-extended association with the BJP in 2019, he was possibly apprehensive of the escalating acceptance and get to of the saffron get together in the state. In excess of the several years, the BJP had outgrown its ally, growing not just its seat tally but also vote share even as the Shiv Sena struggled to expand its base. Uddhav perhaps understood that participating in second fiddle to the BJP would have further eroded the foundation of his get together.

The BJP, which had won just about double the seats of Shiv Sena, was clearly in no mood to oblige. Devendra Fadnavis, who had led the BJP marketing campaign, was adamant not to allow Shiv Sena to guide the coalition, even on a rotational foundation.

So, what has transformed now for the BJP to reverse its stand and perform 2nd fiddle irrespective of the celebration getting more than double MLAs than the rebel Sena camp?
One particular of the achievable causes for this “masterstroke” could be perhaps to do with the inner turmoil in the Shiv Sena brought on by rebel leader and now the state’s main minister Eknath Shinde.
Immediately after dislodging the Uddhav-led MVA federal government, Shinde would now be keen to consider handle of the bash. His elevation as the main minister will assistance him woo the Shiv Sainiks at all concentrations and wrest regulate of the social gathering.
This would make it all the far more complicated for Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aditya to rebuild the celebration just after the enormous revolt that has remaining them with just 13 odd MLAs out of 55.
A resurgent Shinde suggests Uddhav will have to to start with target on saving his party than focussing on taking on the BJP in the state.
For the BJP, a Shiv Sena with out the Thackerays will be a large amount far more less complicated to handle and also defeat if essential in future.
In addition, the BJP would not have needed to contest the subsequent assembly elections and also the 2024 Lok Sabha elections with the mahagathbandhan of the Shiv Sena, the NCP and the Congress on just one side.
Fadnavis from CM to deputy CM
The BJP has not just added to the headache of the Thackerays, it has also maybe despatched out a strong information to Devendra Fadnavis who is deemed as the architect of the Sena rebel and was the frontrunner to acquire in excess of as chief minister with the aid of Shinde camp.
Fadnavis experienced performed a key job in the current shock victories of the BJP in Rajya Sabha elections and also the MLC polls in the point out. The cross-voting that aided BJP win added seats was mostly attributed to meticulous organizing by the former chief minister.
So, when the rise up in Shiv Sena performed out, the emphasis was on Fadnavis, who was thought to be pulling the strings from at the rear of the scene.
When Uddhav resigned on Wednesday night, almost everyone believed Fadnavis was just a move absent from the chair. But as items turned out, that one particular past step remained elusive for him as the BJP made a decision to set up Shinde at the major post.
Accepting the flip of destiny, the former chief minister introduced that he would not be a part of the Shinde govt but assist it from outdoors.
Nevertheless, in hours he was made to reconsider his conclusion and agreed to be Shinde’s deputy in the new govt.
BJP’s impression makeover?
The BJP’s move to prop up rebel Sena leader Eknath Shinde will also enable it combat the graphic of a electric power-hungry bash that subsumes its allies.
Maharashtra will be the next state just after Bihar in which the BJP is participating in next fiddle to a regional ally in spite of getting the senior associate in conditions of seats and vote share.
For a get together that is accused by the opposition of taking part in massive brother to regional outfits, these two sacrifices will support silence this criticism.
Plainly, the BJP may well have sacrificed now, but it will hope to make big gains in the upcoming. The only worry quite possibly would be Fadnavis who may perhaps not be the happiest human being participating in 2nd fiddle to a breakaway Sena chief.
Nonetheless, his demotion may perhaps be a small phrase sacrifice. Fadnavis might be back in the saddle immediately after 2024 when the BJP would hope to emerge as a distinct winner in the point out.

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