Congress-NCP to gain from Sena’s solo act

The split between Shiv Sena and BJP during elections is likely to increase the prospects of Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party.

In 2014’s Maharashtra state assembly elections, BJP’s vote share was 27.8%, Shiv Sena 19.3%, Congress 18% while the NCP’s 17%.

“If the NCP and the Congress fight together, then their vote share becomes 35% while the Sena and BJP’s vote share remains the same. This happened despite the Modi wave and huge anti-incumbency factors in state. Now, the Congress and the NCP are gaining ground. Besides, disgruntled elements in the BJP will also a factor,” said a political observer.

Interestingly, Congress and the NCP have already declared that they would be fighting the Lok Sabha and state assembly elections jointly. Commenting on Sena’s decision of going solo in the next elections, NCP leader Ajit Pawar asked the Shiv Sena to not only make the announcement of fighting 2019 Lok Sabha and state assembly elections solo, but also ensure that Sena ministers resign and withdraw their support from the BJP-led government. “People have lost the trust. Sena wants to behave like an Opposition and, at the same time, enjoy the fruits of power,” Pawar said.

Ashok Chavan, president of MPCC, said Shiv Sena had lost its credibility. “The announcement on Tuesday is nothing but drama,” he said.