Thumping victory for the MahaYuti in Maharashtra…
Every analysis and forecasting went wrong on the results day of Maharashtra elections. Every exit poll was proven wrong. Whosoever says how many times they want, that “MahaYuti” has performed outstandingly, I would say it was not Mahayuti but only one man who proved once again that–HE IS THE REAL CHANAKYA OF MAHARASHTRA POLITICS and his name is MR. DEVENDRA FADNAVIS . Please note, it was only ONE MAN SHOW! And with Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde was no less too. It was a literal sense battle of existence for Shinde now in which he has come out with flying colours. To answer the biggest question of the moment, as to who is becoming the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, my gut feel says it will be only DEVENDRA FADNAVIS and none other, and the swearing-in ceremony should be around the 29th of this month or first week of December. If anyone other than Devendra Fadnavis becomes the Chief Minister of Maharashtra with this performance, it would be a disappointment. Eknath Shinde will be handed over the reins of Maharashtra, once DF decides to go to Delhi. But as of now, it is DF all the way!
My heart sank at the end of the day when the final results came. My heart sank for the MNS party. I mean, this time around I wanted at least MNS to open their account with the likes of Amit Thackeray and Bala Nandgaokar. Let me tell you, it was MNS who cut Uddhav Thackeray’s votes in prime constituencies. What went wrong for Raj Thackeray is another chapter. But now as a token of appreciation Fadnavis, Shinde and Pawar should unify and field Amit Thackeray as a candidate as and when any opportunity arises for any MLC election. Raj Thackeray will really appreciate this gesture and stand by Mahayuti all his life.
Social media is filled with tweets (X) as to how hard Karma has hit Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray. Personally, I feel this election was Sharad Pawar’s last election in terms of active politics. He might as well want to hang his boots by handing over the party reigns to either daughter Supriya Sule or Jayant Patil as and when he decides, but if you ask me– and If I am in Sharad Pawar’s place– I would invite Ajit Pawar home, bury all the differences and hand-over the entire party of 10 MLA’s and 8 MP’s in Ajit Pawar’s hands and ask him to lead the party with giving equal respect and position to Supriya Sule.
Congress lost its bearings when the high-command sidelined Nana Patole who was the only reason as to why Congress performed exceptionally well in the Loksabha elections held in May this year. Balasaheb Thorat was not able to negotiate well with Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray plus delaying candidate announcement cost MVA badly. Loss of Balasaheb Thorat, ex CM Prithviraj Chavan and Rituraj Patil came as a shocker to me.
I was fortunate enough to spend the day of the results announcement at Devendra Fadnavis’s bungalow. Yes, there were moments when even the Mahayuti candidate lost, I saw DF’s reaction, he would feel sad but then again someone or the other came to meet him and greet him and he had to put a smile on his face. The house was filled with well wishers and leaders coming and greeting him, but it was the entry of Mohit Kamboj which stole the show. He lifted both Fadnavis and Bawankule, who by the way, was too tense till he was declared winner from Kamti. By then the Yuti had crossed 200, everyone was winning and Bawankule himself (Party President) was trailing by a few thousands of votes. Imagine Bawankule’s plight!! Many well wishers tried to calm him down but the tension was visible. I could see a road scam wala bureaucrat trying too hard to show his innocent behaviour in the room, but failed miserably… Now don’t ask me how he looked. A lot of fun was made on that by all present there. How certain bureaucrats behave na, once they know who is coming in power…Baap Re…
You know what was the take away for the BJP and where did Fadnavis show his master class? It was in the bastion of Sharad Pawar–Western Maharashtra. Fadnavis quietly, patiently, gathered all the youngsters and made a strong team. Likes of Atul Bhosale, Jay Kumar Gore, Rahul Kul, Ram Satpute have made their presence and effectiveness felt in Western Maharashtra, which was the toughest nut to crack for Fadnavis. I was so glad all Maratha’s voted for development and did not fall prey to any tactics of the lost cause-Jarange Patil. OBC’s too voted for development.
To conclude, I am sure, it will be exciting to see new comers and youngsters in Vidhan Bhavan. I want to see how the Jodi of Aaditya Thackeray and Varun Sardesai go about, I want to see a Sumit Wankhede, but I am most thrilled to see and hear Rohit RR Patil in the Vidhan Sabha.
Till then, Kudos to Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar…
Vikrant Hemant Joshi.
