Mahayuti vs Grand Alliance: The one who is the enemy is the friend, the one who is the friend is the enemy

Have you ever thought that arch rivals Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress are fighting together for an election? Posters of BJP and Congress leaders are seen together, Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde are seen united? This is becoming true in Maharashtra. In the elections to be held on December 2 for 246 Municipal Councils and 42 Nagar Panchayats of Maharashtra, many unexpected alliances have emerged, which people are unable to believe.

BJP and Congress are arch rivals of each other. Since its inception, both the factions have been following different paths but both the parties have united on some seats in Maharashtra. After the split of Shiv Sena in the year 2022, Eknath Shinde led Shiv Sena and Uddhav Thackeray led Shiv Sena (UBT) are political enemies.

Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena and Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) have contested against each other in the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. There is a strong political rivalry between the two but both the parties have come out against BJP. Interestingly, Shiv Sena is part of the Mahayuti alliance, Eknath Shinde is the Deputy CM in the Devendra Fadnavis government.

Also read: Leaders of Mahayuti are busy strengthening themselves at each other’s expense.

How have the arch opposites come together?

Civic elections are fought on local equations. At many places both Shiv Sena factions have formed an alliance. Senior leaders of both the parties are calling it local coordination, which means clearly that such an alliance will not be seen in the Assembly and Lok Sabha. This is a local alliance. Eknath Shinde’s move is surprising as he is fielding candidates against BJP on many seats, sometimes in alliance with Congress and sometimes in alliance with NCP (Sharad faction). Eknath Shinde had decided to separate from Uddhav Thackeray in the year 2022. He had termed the alliance with Congress and NCP as mismatched. He had justified the decision to separate from Shiv Sena and said that the real Shiv Sainiks are with him. This was also proved in the elections. Now he himself is seen making mismatched friendships.

How did this alliance happen?

Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray are arch rivals of each other. To stop the growing influence of BJP, such alliances have been formed at the local level. BJP is getting stronger on the ground. If local caste equations are to be addressed then the party cadre will have to be strengthened in the civic elections. Local leaders have taken this step to stop BJP and compete with strong independent panels.

Also read:‘We believe in Ram, we will burn Lanka…’, did Fadnavis give a message to Shinde?

Where have such mismatched alliances happened?

• Chakan, Pune: Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena and Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena have united. Both are fighting with BJP.
• Kankavali, Sindhudurg: Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena and Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena are together. Contesting elections against BJP.
• Umarga, Dharashiv: Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, along with Congress, is challenging BJP’s Harshvardhan Chalukya.
• Chopra, Jalgaon: Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena and Congress are in alliance, BJP is in front.
• Yeola, Nashik: Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena and Sharad Pawar’s Shiv Sena are together. The elections are being fought against Ajit Pawar and BJP alliance.
• Dahanu, Palghar: Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena and Sharad Pawar’s NCP and Ajit Pawar’s NCP are united, facing BJP.
• Kagal, Kolhapur: Both factions of NCP are contesting elections together, Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena is on target.
• Jaysingpur, Kolhapur: BJP, Congress and Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana are contesting the elections together. There is a war against Eknath Shinde.
• Bhagur, Nashik: BJP, NCP, Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress are together, everyone is fighting against Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena.

What can happen now?

Local alliances will play an important role in the BMC elections. This is being seen as a litmus test. The parties of both Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi are trying their strength on the ground. There is a situation of tension in Mahayuti. The rift between Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis is becoming vocal.

Direct contests are taking place between BJP and Shinde Sena in many cities. There is a direct contest between BJP and Shinde’s Shiv Sena in parts of Western Maharashtra, Marathwada and Vidarbha. Tension is continuously increasing within BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP.

BJP leaders say that if equations are to be worked out at the local level, then friendly contests are necessary at some places. Eknath Shinde’s attitude is clear that he is with Mahayuti at many places but will not dissatisfy his workers. Local units have been given autonomy for alliances as these are grassroots elections.

Also read:IT Bombay VS IIT Mumbai, why suddenly politics over name broke out in Maharashtra?

Whatever the results, Mahayuti will win.

Eknath Shinde’s leaders have publicly said many times that the results of the civic elections will be seen as the victory of Mahayuti. The Chairman, Mayor and Municipal Corporation Chairman will be from Mahayuti only.