Shinde Sena’s insistence on ZP chief role backfires

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

The cold war between the BJP and Shinde Sena, which began after the alliance broke in the municipal corporation elections, has persisted through the zilla parishad and panchayat samiti elections, widening the communication gap between the two parties. Despite having a majority, the Shinde Sena insisted on taking the ZP chief’s post for themselves. This insistence was criticised by BJP leader and OBC Welfare Minister Atul Save on Thursday.

On the same day, the BJP secured dominance in the ZP subject committee chairmanships. Since Shinde Sena boycotted this election, it is unlikely, at least for now, that the political dynamics between the two parties in municipal, ZP, PS, and other local body elections will be easily predictable.

Though the mahayuti was officially declared in the ZP, in practice, the alliance had broken in most areas, with BJP and Shinde Sena candidates contesting against each other. The NCP (Ajit Pawar) also fielded its own candidates independently. After the ZP elections, NCP aligned with BJP, but differences between BJP and Shinde Sena appear to be widening, as was evident during the selection of the subject committee chairperson on Thursday.

BJP consolidates power despite multiple MPs and ministers

After the BJP-Shinde Sena alliance collapsed in municipal corporation elections, the BJP won 57 seats. Subsequently, the party also secured six out of nine PS and gained control of the ZP. Demonstrating strategic acumen, BJP outmaneuvered Shinde Sena despite the alliance being formally in place on paper. In practice, BJP and Shinde Sena candidates contested against each other in many local constituencies, leaving no clear majority for either party. Shinde Sena had wanted the chairperson post in the first one and a half years, but BJP, using its full strength, captured both the ZP president and vice-president positions. Even with a member of parliament, guardian minister and half a dozen MLAs in its ranks, Shinde Sena has lost ground in the district.

Political equations are always fluid

“The gap between us and Shinde Sena hasn’t widened; the magic numbers were on our side. BJP, Shinde Sena, and NCP (Ajit Pawar) were supposed to contest the alliance. We had already completed all calculations for the ZP president, vice-president, and committee chairmanships before the election, but Shinde Sena did not approach us. They were aware of our numbers, and seeing no disruption, they stayed away. There is no question of being marginalised in the future. Political equations always change. If they had not insisted on the president post, everything would have gone smoothly,” said Atul Save, OBC Welfare Minister.