New Delhi: In a sharp editorial in its mouthpiece less than 24 hours after the Maharashtra assembly election results were declared, the ruling Shiv Sena took a dig at its alliance partner BJP for “arrogance of power” and the “simple majority” mandate not in line with expectations.
In the editorial published in Saamana Friday, the Sena praised the rise of opposition leader Sharad Pawar-led NCP, while noting that a leaderless Congress also won more than its previous tally.
In the election results declared Thursday to the 288-member Maharashtra assembly, the BJP managed 105 seats while Shiv Sena won 56. Pawar’s NCP secured 54 seats while its ally Congress won 44. Both partners of the ruling coalition saw a drop from their 2014 tally.
The editorial came after Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called the mandate “decisive” even as the two partners clashed publicly over the sharing of power in Maharashtra.
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‘Politics of terror’
“The results are different this time from 2014 when we were not in alliance. In 2019, despite an alliance, the seats have come down. We got to a majority but Congress-NCP has reached 100 seats,” the editorial said.
“The people have given them a responsibility for a strong opposition. This is also a lesson to those who believe in the politics of arrogance. People have refused to come under the influence of politics of terror and power and given them a verdict. Salutations to the voters,” it said.
“If we see this result, it’s surprising. In other words, ‘Don’t be overconfident, if you’ll show arrogance then you’ll see’. That’s what the mandate says.”
In a pointed dig at the BJP, the Sena said you can’t finish opponents by misuse of power.
Ahead of the assembly elections, the Enforcement Directorate had filed a case against Sharad Pawar in connection with the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank scam case. Further, many NCP candidates were poached by the ruling party.
The Sena said Pawar proved more powerful than the BJP chief minister. “There is a lesson to be learnt from this defeat (in Satara, where the NCP won). Fadnavis said he was a powerful wrestler but Sharad Pawar proved more powerful.”
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‘Shivaji’s principle’
The Shiv Sena in its editorial also called for sticking to the “principles of Shivaji” to rule Maharashtra.
“The elections are now over and we are about to embark on a journey towards the service of the people of Maharashtra. We will do soul-searching on who won and who lost later. We can’t move ahead by crushing the sentiments of Maharashtra.
“Chhatrapati Shivaji was known for keeping his commitments. This state will be run on Shivaji’s principle,” it said.
Coalition tussle
The ruling partners are currently bickering over the sharing of power in Maharashtra. The Shiv Sena wants a “50-50” power deal as well as the deputy chief minister post for its dynast Aditya Thackeray, who has won his first election from Worli.
The BJP, however, has said that it will go by the “pre-decided deal”.
The Shiv Sena has called a meeting of its newly elected MLAs to put pressure on the BJP for deputy CM post and a rotational CM policy, but Fadnavis has claimed support of more than 15 Independent MLAs to ease the pressure tactics of Sena, said sources.
Also read: 5 lessons BJP must learn from Maharashtra & Haryana election results
With inputs from PTI.
When the two parties fought separately in 2014, it was 122 : 63. In 2019, jointly, it is 105 : 56. The electorate is not viewing the two entities with equal affection and respect. The sensible way forward would be for the SS to hold the DCM’s post for five years and for a fair distribution of portfolios, proportionate to legislative presence. The allocation between the SS and the BJP in 1995 was so fair, it became the framework the Congress and NCP adopted for three terms. 2. Public expressions of anger and pique do not conform to coalition dharma.