Sena’s decision to seal fate of state politics

Mumbai: All eyes are now on the Shiv Sena for the next major development in the state politics. The party has declared that it will contest the Lok Sabha (LS) polls on its own, and hasn’t backtracked, yet.

Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on every second issue but at the same time, there have been indications that the party will contest the LS polls in an alliance with the BJP, and the Assembly elections on its own. If the Sena decides to snap ties with the BJP in the LS elections, the state is likely to go for Assembly polls in April 2019, which were otherwise scheduled in October 2019.

“We have taken a position and we are firm on it. We will not enter into an alliance with anyone. Shiv Sena will contest on its own and win,” said Sanjay Raut Wednesday when asked whether the party would change its decision on the election.

However, if the Sena decides to contest the LS polls of April 2019 on its own, the BJP-Sena state government will be in danger. In that case, the Sena will have to snap ties at the state level as well, resulting either in elections or the state being under governor’s rule. So in this case, there is a possibility of state elections being held along with the general elections.

The Opposition however is of the view that the Sena will not break the alliance before the general elections. “I am sure that the Sena and BJP will have an alliance for the Lok Sabha elections. I can’t tell now what will be the situation for the Assembly,” said Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar Wednesday.