Maharashtra is witnessing a debate on “Sabarmati and Baramati” started by Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in the middle of the crucial Bihar battle, to accuse each other of using these power centres.
While “Sabarmati” is symbolised with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the new situation, “Baramati” has been a pocket borough of NCP chief Sharad Pawar.
They (BJP) used to talk of “Sabarmati” before the elections (Lok Sabha) but now they are talking of “Baramati”, Mr Thackeray said recently, according to reports. Mr Fadnavis hit back at the Shiv Sena chief reminding him that the Shiv Sena gained in the Lok Sabha elections (18 seats) because of “Sabarmati” (Narendra Modi) otherwise the maati (land) of “Baramati” would have shown the Sena its place in the elections.
The fight between the two parties is not merely for power but for supremacy because Hindutva is no more an ideological bond between them.
In Bihar, chief minister Nitish Kumar broke the alliance with the BJP after realising that its real agenda is to become number one under the leadership of Narendra Modi. But the Shiv Sena has yet to make up its mind, even after realising that the BJP is comfortable with the NCP. Mr Thackeray did not withdraw its minister in the Union cabinet despite the fact that the Shiv Sena fought the Maharashtra Assembly polls against the BJP in 2014. Now, the BJP is said to be uncomfortable with the Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab.
Interestingly, the three oldest allies — the Shiv Sena, JD(U) and the SAD — had a long association with the BJP because of former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and L.K. Advani. But the Congress’ debacle has given space to the BJP to become a pan India party under the leadership of Mr Modi.
The slanging match between the top leaders of the two parties is widening the rift between the cadres of the BJP and the Shiv Sena and thus weakening the Hindutva vote bank created by BJP veteran Mr Advani and late Bal Thackeray in 1989 against the Congress.
The chief minister, who is deriving strength from the Prime Minister, is gradually ignoring the Shiv Sena chief as part of the well calculated strategy.
This was seen in the laying of foundation stone ceremony of Babasaheb Ambedkar memorial at the Indu Mills compound in Mumbai by the PM. Mr Thackeray was not invited. This has compelled the Shiv Sena to field candidates against the BJP in the Bihar polls.
Although Mr Modi and finance minister Arun Jatiley have been influenced by the Baramati model of development after the visit, Mr Pawar understands politics and psyche in Maharashtra well.
The NCP-Congress combine has won the Bhadra-Gondiya zilla parsishad elections and the Shiv Sena managed to assert its supremacy in the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation elections despite bad governance due to weak leadership of the Congress-NCP combine at the local level.
Political parties are watching the blame game between the two ruling partners. But their fighting is certainly creating a space for a new alternative irrespective of whether or not BJP-Shiv Sena remains together for a full term.
