NDA’s Game of Thrones: The Chair Message Post-Maharashtra Win
Mumbai:
Maharashtra’s post-election landscape is unfolding into what can only be described as a Game of Thrones within the Mahayuti alliance. A symbolic gesture during a victory celebration at Varsha, the Chief Minister’s official residence, hints at the power dynamics shaping the future.
As the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) celebrated a historic mandate in Maharashtra, Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar joined Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to congratulate him on the landslide victory. At the gathering, a subtle but striking image stood out — Shinde and Fadnavis seated on identical high-back chairs, while Ajit Pawar and Union Minister Ramdas Athawale sat on smaller ones.
While this seating arrangement might be coincidental, its timing raises eyebrows, given the BJP’s sweeping victory. Shinde, who took the Chief Minister’s seat in 2022 after his rebellion split the Shiv Sena, remains the face of the alliance government despite the BJP’s dominant position. Devendra Fadnavis, a former Chief Minister and one of Maharashtra’s tallest BJP leaders, settled for the Deputy CM role then, showing strategic restraint.
Now, the 2024 elections have shifted the dynamics significantly.
NDA’s Historic Mandate
The BJP secured its best-ever performance in Maharashtra, winning 130 of the 148 seats it contested — an impressive 90% strike rate. The Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena clinched 54 seats, while Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) rebels managed 41. With such a commanding performance, the BJP needs the support of only one of its two allies to claim the Chief Minister’s chair in the 288-member Assembly.
While Shinde and Fadnavis stated that the alliance will collectively decide on the Chief Minister’s post, the BJP’s resounding success provides it significant leverage. Analysts suggest that both Shinde and Pawar may need to settle for key ministerial positions while the BJP stakes its claim to the top spot.
The Chair Message
The identical chairs occupied by Shinde and Fadnavis during the Varsha meeting are being interpreted as a silent assertion of BJP’s growing dominance. Ajit Pawar’s smaller chair may subtly signify his position as the junior partner in the alliance.
Despite these potential shifts, the allies have presented a united front. Addressing the media together, Shinde, flanked by Fadnavis and Pawar, credited the alliance’s unity and strategy for the decisive victory.
The Road Ahead
With the elections behind them, the BJP must now navigate the complex dynamics of alliance politics. Balancing its push for supremacy with the “alliance dharma” will be crucial. The chair dynamics at Varsha may just be the beginning of the political chessboard being reset in Maharashtra.
As Maharashtra enters this new chapter, the Game of Thrones has only just begun. Will Shinde retain his throne, or will the BJP’s mandate shift the balance of power? Only time will tel
Reference from:- https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/2024-maharashtra-election-results-eknath-shinde-devendra-fadnavis-ndas-game-of-thrones-set-to-begin-a-chair-message-after-maharashtra-win-7087516