Trouble for Maha Vikas Aghadi, sweet revenge for Devendra Fadnavis?

The ongoing rebellion in Shiv Sena and the troubles in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra has established former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis as the person in control of political dynamics in the state.

By engineering a rebellion, constituting almost 40 MLAs of the MVA and ensuring that it becomes a minority government, the BJP hopes to have sweet revenge on its former National Democratic Alliance ally, Shiv Sena.

BJP sources stated that the preparation for laying the foundation for the rebellion in the Shiv Sena and troubles for the MVA government had started several weeks ago.

Party sources stated that the change of guard in the state was becoming evident with each passing day after the BJP secured the third Rajya Sabha seat in the June 10 election. “This belief was cemented after the party also won the fifth legislative council seat that seemed completely out of its grasp,” sources stated.

These two victories ensured that the party had enough confidence in going through with backing the Shiv Sena rebellion. Despite being in opposition, and being in a bitter relationship with its former ally Shiv Sena, Fadnavis maintained a personal rapport and relationship with its senior leaders like Eknath Shinde.

This is being considered as the single most important factor that the BJP is now confident of removing the MVA government in Maharashtra. The total strength of the state Assembly is 288. The rebellion has brought down the MVA numbers from 152 MLAs to below the halfway mark required for continuing the government.

Go ahead by BJP’s central leadership

It is learnt that Fadnavis had a few days back flown in to the national capital to brief the top central leadership of the BJP regarding the impending crisis in the MVA.

After securing the blessings of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and party chief JP Nadda, the former Maharashtra Chief Minister put the plan in motion.

Sources stated that while giving a go ahead for strategic move, central leaders had asked Fadnavis to ensure that there is not a repeat of a failed attempt at government formation in 2019.

By engineering a massive rebellion in the ruling camp, Fadnavis has also ensured that he emerges as the top leader in the state BJP. This puts to rest any suggestions by other factions in the saffron unit regarding a change in leadership. Putting Maharashtra back into the BJP’s kitty is expected to boost the stature of Fadnavis.

Over the next few days, as the rebel MLAs hop between BJP-ruled Gujarat and Assam, the saffron party leadership will be keeping a close watch on the developments in Maharashtra, and an establishment of a friendly government is highly anticipated.

By moving the rebel MLAs to Assam, the BJP has also ensured that they are comparatively insulated from the reach of the three constituents of the MVA, Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party, and Congress.