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People of Maharashtra have given a clear verdict by recognising that the Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray, and the Nationalist Congress Party led by Sharad Pawar are ‘real’. The people’s mandate has thereby disapproved the judgments of the Election Commission of India, and the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.
After the splits and desertions in these parties, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in the state with the help of splinter groups of the Shiv Sena and the NCP. The Election Commission of India derecognised these parties and allowed them to retain the original election symbols to them.
And this was endorsed by the Speaker of Maharashtra legislative Assembly. But the Lok Sabha elections bluntly told them that they are ‘wrong’.
The BJP in Maharashtra was boasting that it will win 45 of the total 48 Lok Sabha seats but was shell shocked after seeing the sympathy of the people towards the Opposition’s Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).
The BJP backed Chief Minister Eknath Shinde (Shiv Sena) and the deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar (NCP) failed to gauge the mood of the people. They were over confident that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s name and the Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s ‘Cchankyaniti’ will ultimately deliver.
They never thought that Uddhav Thackeray would emerge as a leader, and come out from the shadow of his late father Bal Thackeray. And they were equally proven wrong in undermining the veteran Sharad Pawar who not only revived his party, but remained the strength of the MVA.
While the BJP received a setback in its stronghold Vidarbha and the Marathwada regions, Uddhav’s Shiv Sena has shown who is the boss in Mumbai. Interestingly, the Congress emerged as a gainer for the simple reason that Rahul Gandhi relied completely on Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray. This was the best strategy for Maharashtra.
A section of the BJP was clear in its perception that Uddhav alone has the sanctity and legacy of the Shiv Sena and Bal Thackeeray, and not Raj Thackeray. And Sharad Pawar once again showed that he is the organiser, leader par excellence in the state.
The results have also shown that the BJP high command cannot take Maharashtra and Marathi Manoos for granted. Contrary to the exit poll predictions, the MVA has already established its grip in the Lok Sabha election in the state. The BJP’s central and the state ministers who were fielded in this election faced the brunt.
Although many constituencies in the state saw a neck-and-neck fight, the strong opposition from the 'divided’ MVA showed that the BJP high command failed in reading the situation.
