Mumbai: The BJP has won the vote of confidence by a surprise voice vote. It is a phyrric victory, with the help of the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Remember during the election campaign the Prime Minister had called the NCP the Nationalist Corruption Party! The party whose leaders looted Maharashtra!
While Mr Fadnavis’ victory was not in doubt, the fall out of this victory will see an explosion of developments as there are several crucial political issues that will have to find resolution. What happens to the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance; what happens to the Shiv Sena itself and what happens to all the serious corruption charges against the high profile leaders of the NCP?
According to sources close to the Shiv Sena, the possibility of any truce between the BJP and Sena seems difficult. There is also a possibility that the SS will split with the possibility of some members joining the BJP. There is a lot of resentment against the second rank leaders that have surrounded SS chief Uddhav Thackeray –members like Sanjay Raut, Ramdas Kadam etc. Many sainiks believe that Uddhav was misled by them and that’s why he shuttled between various inconsistent stands on a daily basis, vis a vis the BJP. Finally all Uddhav’s threats were mere empty threats.
The future of the NCP is equally in the melting pot. One story going around is a deal struck between the BJP and the NCP at Mount Abu before the elections. If so what could the deal be? There is no doubt that the NCP’s swift support to the BJP on the day the votes were counted was a master stroke as it shattered the dream of the SS of being the king makers. But on the face of it, it would seem that the NCP’s support to the BJP was for its own survival. It’s strength would be decimated further if there was another election. Against this reality why would the BJP have to make a ‘deal’ with the NCP.
It may not be long before the truth of the deal unravels. Mr Fadnavis who has repeatedly said that his government would not tolerate corruption and no one will be spared will have to take a decision on all the corruption cases against the NCP leaders like former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and Sunil Tatkare. All eyes would be on how he goes about this. Interesting days are ahead with a lot of responsibility on the opposition parties to see that the BJP live up to its promises of a clean government—minimum government and maximum governance.
