BJP's unimpressive performance in the by-polls held in states across the country has led to silent exultation in the Shiv Sena camp.
The Sena, which is under pressure from its ally to alter the seat-sharing and power-sharing pacts for the state elections is claiming that the 'wake-up call' that the BJP has received will give them a good handle during final rounds of seat negotiations.
Though the Shiv Sena has traditionally assumed the role of a senior partner in the alliance which has lasted since 1989, the BJP is trying to turn the tables by claiming that ground realities have changed. They claim that the Sena got its best ever 18 seats in the general elections due the Narendra Modi factor. Hence, the BJP wants half of the total 288 seats.
In 2009, the Sena contested 169 seats and won only 45, , and BJP 47 out of 119. Sena lost its status as the principal opposition party in both houses of the legislature.
“The by-poll set back will help us in seat-sharing negotiations,” said a Sena loyalist.
“The BJP was pushing us into the corner... they may now understand the realities,” admitted a Sena legislator, adding that the party had a much stronger grassroots network than the BJP. He claimed that the by-poll setback would underline the need for the BJP to hold on to its allies as fighting seperatley is not an option.
“The polling in the Lok Sabha was as anti-Congress as it was pro-Modi. The anti-Congress and anti-NCP votes are for us to pick. More than a positive mandate for the Shiv Sena and BJP, it was a negative vote against the Congress and NCP,” the Sena MLA explained.
Meanwhile, the Congress and NCP have been reporting a rush of application to get tickets. For 174 seats, the Congress has got 4,000 applications, while the NCP has got 1,400 appplications . "The response has been overwhelming. Applicants know they have a good chance of winning on our party tickets," said MPCC spokesperson Sachin Sawant.
Another MPCC office-bearer said that there is not much euphoria about the Modi government performance so far and grassroots workers are realising that we stand a good chance, even though we were humiliated in the Lok Sabha polls.
"Ticket aspirants are confident. BJP cannot fool the people all the time," said Nawab Malik NCP spokesperson.
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