Six years after he created the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), the alliance's architect finds himself in a tough spot, caught between an old ally and a newer one.
With alliances forming and dissolving within hours, Maharashtra's local body polls are looking at a maze of confusion. Now both Mahayuti and MVA hope the NDA victory in Bihar can indicate the way ahead.
Opposite stands on north Indians makes it difficult for the MNS and the Congress to come together. Both parties say there are no discussions on an alliance.
BMC polls will be 1st major electoral test for both ruling & oppn allies after Maharashtra elections last November, when NDA secured thumping win and BJP emerged as largest party.
Sena UBT and MNS might decide to go together citing the Marathi manoos plank, on the other hand, the frequent Sharad Pawar-Ajit Pawar meetings are leading to speculation of patch-up.
The multiplier effect of various factors and strategies ensured bigger-than-expected results for Mahayuti. But this historic win has also underlined the limitations of morality in politics.
While Congress has questioned poll process & varying voter preferences in bypoll & assembly elections held on same day, BJP functionary says ‘sympathy factor involved’ in MVA win in LS seat.
AIMIM wins just one seat, Muslim-dominated Malegaon Central, and that too by a razor-thin margin of just 162 votes. It had won both this seat and Dhule City in 2019.
The participation of middle powers in platforms such as the G20, ASEAN, AUKUS dialogues, and regional security forums positions them as brokers between competing interests.
This is the game every nation is now learning to play. Some are finding new allies or seeing value among nations where they’d seen marginal interest. The starkest example is India & Europe.
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