Janjivan Bureau / New Delhi : With just a day to go before the term of the current Maharashtra legislative Assembly ends, there is still no sign of an end to the impasse between allies BJP and Shiv Sena over power-sharing in the state. The two warring allies continue to engage in a bitter game of brinksmanship with the Sena hardening its demand for rotational chief ministership.
Brinksmanship, incidentally, is defined as the “art or practise of pursuing a dangerous policy to the limits of safety before stopping, especially in politics” and political happenings in Maharashtra in the past 14 days are that and more. With their political future at stake, is the question of who blinks first.
Same holds true for the BJP, for which it “is wait and watch” while the other two players—the Congress and the NCP—watch closely. “The BJP is willing to accept Sena’s demands, but it (Sena) should also reach out,” they said. “The BJP is in no mood to concede, or in a hurry, it is the question of ego. Besides, they are the single largest party and have the advantage of the Governor. He may tap options, consult and then come to a decision. He would also be in no hurry,” say observers
Notably state Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar last week said Maharashtra could head for the President’s rule if the new government is not in place by November 7. A belligerent Sena is sticking to its stance. The BJP meanwhile is in no mood to form a minority government.
“It is wait and watch on both sides and the challenge being who blinks first. The Governor can call the single largest party (the BJP) to form the government. Otherwise, the President’s rule or a long haul before that suits the BJP well. Perhaps a phone call from the Central BJP leadership to Sena chief Uddhav Thackaray is all that is required,” say observers.
The prolonged standoff between warring BJP and Sena has resulted in speculations on permutations and combinations with other players in the field—the Congress and the NCP—and also the possibility of some other CM from the BJP. Not being able to bring around the Sena to form the government nearly two weeks after the elections, has earned Fadnavis a black mark from the top leadership, sources say. He is also facing the heat from colleagues within the BJP, they say, adding that leaders opposed to Fadnavis are lobbying with the RSS to bring about a leadership change.
