Shinde's wounds-BJP's injury, Uddhav has not forgotten yet, no return to NDA

Maharashtra Elections: During the Maharashtra assembly elections, both the ruling and opposition coalitions maintained suspense over the face of the chief minister, which has increased political discussions and speculations rapidly. After the election results, there were possibilities of possible alliance changes and changes in the game of power. Uddhav Thackeray, who broke away from the ruling BJP during a major political crisis in the Shiv Sena two and a half years ago, has put an end to speculations of a possible reunion by showing a clear stand on his party's support.

BJP and Uddhav Thackeray's distance: cracks in friendship and marks of pain

In the 2019 assembly elections, Shiv Sena contested the elections in alliance with the BJP, but after the results, ideological and power differences emerged between the two parties. Uddhav Thackeray then led the Shiv Sena to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance with the Congress and the NCP and formed the government. But the rebellion in the Shiv Sena made the political situation difficult for Uddhav. In 2022, Eknath Shinde rebelled against Uddhav along with most of the Shiv Sena MLAs and made himself the Chief Minister with the support of BJP, which the Thackeray camp still feels hurt by.

Thackeray says that BJP divided Shiv Sena only for power, and hurt the existence of his party. Uddhav said that BJP has targeted his son and family along with breaking his party. He said in his interview, "My family has been insulted. I was called a fake child, so will Modi ji join hands with a fake child?" This statement of Uddhav Thackeray makes it clear that his distance from BJP is very deep at the ideological and personal level.

The pain of Shinde's rebellion and distrust in BJP

The rebellion by Eknath Shinde seriously hurt the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray. Shinde not only got the chair of Chief Minister, but also took a large part of Shiv Sena with him. Thackeray indirectly taunted Shinde by saying that the people of Maharashtra know how to teach a lesson to traitors and have shown its trailer in the Lok Sabha elections. Uddhav said that whatever Shinde has become, it is because of his father Balasaheb Thackeray. This pain of Thackeray is politically important for him, due to which his gap with BJP and Shinde has become deeper.

Differences arising on Hindutva and Savarkar issue

The traditional base of Shiv Sena has been Hindutva, and Uddhav Thackeray has considered Savarkar as an ideal while carrying forward the legacy of his father. However, in Mahavikas Aghadi, he has Congress and NCP with him, whose ideological thinking does not match with Shiv Sena. Congress's criticism on Savarkar and questioning BJP-Sangh has been a cause of trouble for Shiv Sena. Thackeray is trying that Congress should not make statements against Savarkar in the state, but differences on Savarkar can create sourness in the alliance.

Expectations for the post of Chief Minister and the situation after the elections

The ambition of the Uddhav Thackeray camp is clear that if the Maha Vikas Aghadi comes to power again, Uddhav Thackeray would like to become the Chief Minister. But the Congress has its own plans and it is also eyeing the post of Chief Minister in Maharashtra. With this approach of the Congress, there can be a tussle for power in the Maha Vikas Aghadi as well. In such a situation, the election speculation was that if there is no coordination in the Maha Vikas Aghadi, then Uddhav Thackeray can join hands with the BJP. However, Thackeray has clarified that he will not go with the BJP again nor will he take Shinde with him.

Thackeray's statement indicates changing politics

The way Uddhav Thackeray has expressed anger against the BJP and Shinde in his statements, it is clear that his strategy in the upcoming assembly elections is to maintain distance from both. There is no permanence of friendship and enmity in Maharashtra politics, but Uddhav Thackeray has made it clear that there is no question of returning with the BJP. This stance of Thackeray can strengthen the Maha Vikas Aghadi, but at the same time it can also create a challenging situation for the ideological and power balance in the alliance.

At this juncture of Maharashtra politics, Uddhav Thackeray's stance can prove to be important for him not only politically, but also for the autonomy of his party Shiv Sena. The result of the assembly elections will decide which way the power equation will tilt in Maharashtra, but Thackeray has given a clear direction to the political discussions by putting an end to the possibilities of any kind of alliance with the BJP.