End to Maha crisis soon!

Bhubaneswar, June 25(Ajoy Kumar Misra): The political drama is all set to end in the next 24 hours unless there is any twist. Rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde is likely to go for show of strength of his group which now has 38 party MLAs and 15 Independents. But it is unlikely that Shiv Sena chief Uddav Thackray will concede defeat so easily though he has vacated his official Chief Minister’s Residence ‘Varsha’—an apparent hint that he has conceded defeat.

In Mumbai ‘Varsha’, ‘Sagar’, Matoshree and ‘Silver Oak Bunglow No 2’ have become the hub of all activities with leaders and workers thronging these every minute. According to rebel Sena leaders Matoshree had remain out of bound for them in the past nearly three years. But today its gates are open to one and all irrespective of the party leaders stature or standing. ‘Sagar’, the residence of Ajit Pawar too is deeply crowded by supporters of the Nationalist Congress Party. No one knows the next move of the rebel group and keeping their fingers crossed. But the rebels are in an advantageous position as Chief Minister Uddhav Thackrey, son Aditya Thackray and party spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Rout issuing statements against the rebels and the rebels in turn planning accordingly.

Shinde in all probability will meet the Deputy Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly and put forward his claim to recognize his group as a separate entity. But the most interesting fact is that Maharashtra Vikash Aghadi has not been able to elect a Speaker nor ever made any attempt in that direction. Political analysts feel that the MVA never sincerely wanted to go for any election let alone Speaker as their weaknesses were glaring and the spectre of defection of party MLAs haunted the alliance partners. It was natural as they were up against a formidable political foe—the Bhartiya Janata Party. For three years they could contain resentment in their parties but it became pronounced during the recent Rajya Sabha and Vidhan Parishad elections in the State.

Now, Shinde, emboldened by rising strength in his Guwahati hotel, is likely to reach Mumbai anytime and stake his claim for recognition as the original Shiv Sena. The Uddhav Thackray faction has been issuing veiled threats to the rebels but they appear undeterred.

On the other hand, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Debendra Fadnavis—alleged to have masterminded the Shiv Sena split—is busy discussing the strategies with top BJP leadership to pave the way for return to power. Only time will say whether he will succeed or not. But as per present indications, the situation is tilted in his favour. Whether Shinde group merges with BJP or remain a separate entity is a huge question. But reports from Mumbai indicate that Shinde may be made the Deputy Chief Minister if BJP forms a government with the support of the rebel Shiv Sena group. If Shinde becomes the Deputy Chief Minister he will move into ‘Sagar’ to replace the present occupant Ajit Pawar.

In Silver Oak Bunglow No 2 Sharad Pawar is busy in confabulation with party leaders. Several party leaders have publicly said that they are not averse to sitting in the opposition in the Assembly if situation warrants.

The Congress is perhaps the only party that is in a dilemma. They are out of power in State for quite long now and had a feeble hope to resurrect after joining the MVA dispensation to keep BJP away from power. They succeeded in doing so initially but could not sustain it mainly due to the alleged highhanded attitude of the NCP. They have now been branded as partners in corruption crime of the NCP. Whatever hope they had nurtured to rejuvenate the party has gone haywire and some of the party leaders, reports say, are even reluctant to visit their constituencies .

Eminent constitutional experts say that the ‘government in Maharashtra is in suspended animation’ as the Chief Minister, Council of Ministers and MLAs are not doing for what the electorate had reposed faith in them.