Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his family meet the prime minister

This meeting appeared as a balancing act after Ajit and his associate Praful Patel were granted a private audience by the PM a couple of days ago. The Modi-Ajit conversation had taken the shine off Shinde’s prominence at the NDA conclave where he was among leaders chosen to welcome the PM. Later, he tabled the victory-2024 resolutions. The honour lifted Shinde’s spirit. Ajit’s guftugu elevated his supporters’ ambition of seeing him as the next CM, sooner.    

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Mentor at work

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that has mentored the rebellions in the Sena and NCP seems to be safeguarding its interests that lie in curating the contest between the mentees. It appears that the factions will be kept engaged and concerned about who gets what from the big brother, who wants to make best of the respective ally’s utility in the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls next year. For the united Sena was the second biggest seat-getter (18) in NDA-2019. The united NCP, then with UPA, had won four seats, which later became five through a by-poll win in Satara. In the Assembly, the Sena finished second after the BJP. United NCP was the third and Congress fourth. BJP’s third consecutive march towards the Lok Sabha accession will again pass through Maharashtra where NDA had won 42 out of 48 seats.

Before they face the elections together, it’s all about gaining as much strength through participation in the tripartite government. It is to be seen how Shinde and Ajit execute it, with or without the BJP’s approval. Observers say that its vast experience of governance will come handy for the Ajit faction to extract maximum benefits of power. “Give them an inch, and they take a mile,” said an NCP observer, adding, “Let’s see how pampering of allies works for the BJP. It is not the time for BJP to discipline the erring allies, but it is a compulsion to bond with them. At the same time, a sense of competition between the allies may deliver the most for the big brother.”   

Smooth run for Ajit

And while power struggle plays up within Mahayuti, the ongoing Monsoon session hasn’t yet given a clear picture of Ajit’s camp strength. Most NCP members of the Assembly, except for ministers and chieftains of the rival camp, have been skipping the daily work. What shows NCP apart from another warring party (Sena) is the softer way both factions have been treating each other. Meetings have been held to convince Sharad Pawar, who hasn’t yielded yet, but apparently may have given relief to his nephew on the floor of the house. No legal threats, whips, sound bytes and harsh criticism in the house. Ajit hasn’t faced the allegations Shinde has been subjected to for the same act.

Ajit, the then finance minister, had faced accusations of inequitable fund allocation. Made in-charge of treasury again, the tripartite arrangement’s finance minister has made a provision of additional developmental funds ranging between R25 crore and R50 crore for his rebel MLAs and some disgruntled members of the Shinde faction. A surprising beneficiary is said to be the state president of Ajit’s rival faction, Jayant Patil. Prominent associates of Patil have been ignored. With two big elections forthcoming, the ways to overcome the difficulties posed by the restrictions of the model code of conduct will be found soon. The primary focus will be to start developmental works before the declaration of election code that bars new announcements and fund allocation, except for the works approved by the Election Commission. Meantime, the drama involving three main characters will continue to unfold many more plays within the play.

Dharmendra Jore is political editor, mid-day. He tweets @dharmendrajore

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