Finally, it is Shiv Sena which could be forming the government, as its leaders are on their way to Raj Bhavan to meet the Governor within the set deadline of 7.30 p.m. today. The day has been one of the busiest with parleys between the most unlikely of political parties; foes turned likely partners, Sena on the one side and the NCP and Congress on the other.
It augurs well for the democracy to be governed by legislators and not by the Governor, acting as the proxy of the President of India. In that context, it is a win for the electoral representatives who have stitched up an unlikely alliance.
Congress has quickly exploited the burning fire to keep BJP away, who the Sena claims have backstabbed them by failing to execute a pre-poll promise. Partnering with a whimsical Sena could have been absurd or unthinkable a few days ago, but Sonia Ji could not resist the chance to take on BJP, regardless of the pitfalls ahead.
BJP perhaps missed the bus, thinking that Sena would never disown the Hindutva ideology that is the binding principle between them and Sena. They were mistaken and probably did not know about a promise Uddhav made to Bal Thackrey that the CM will be from Sena, though I do not know if he did so while his father was alive or after his demise to his soul! Sharad Pawar played the elder statesman and brokered a truce between a wavering Congress and an impatient Sena leadership.
The naysayers (including me), would bet that the opportunistic and principally opposed alliance may not see another winter, but you never know the game of politics. It is apparent now that all colours all isms and all flags are the same. The chink in the armour of the BJP is visible, and its vulnerability is exposed.
An exciting face seen in the crowd of VVIPs is Prashant Kishor, who is possibly helping to form a predictable pattern of unifying any and everyone opposed to BJP and Modi into one block. The model will be more explicit during the lineup of opposition leaders at the oath-taking ceremony of Sena CM in a short few days.
Who will have the last laugh in the Maha magic? Sonia? Modi-Shah? Mamata? My guess is as good as yours! The voters, who victoriously showed their inked index finger as if they were the one to decide the future of Maharashtra and this nation can suck their thumbs for now
The takeaway from today? In politics, no one is untouchable!
Sampath Kumar
Intrépide Voix