The BJP has wrested the post of ?leader of the Opposition? in the Maharashtra Assembly from its ally Shiv Sena on Wednesday after a gap of 18 years, but politics on the ground in the state indicates that the saffron partners are likely to fight each other for political space. The Sena could end up emerging as the more aggressive partner outside the legislature, especially as it also has to compete with Raj Thackeray?s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).
With the Sena?s monopoly on ?Marathi? and ?sons of the soil? issues being challenged by the MNS, the party is likely to become more aggressive in its struggle for survival, thereby fighting for space also with its ally, the BJP.
The BJP has been playing second fiddle to the Sena ever since they became allies over two decades ago, except in 1992 after Sena leader Chhaggan Bhujbal revolted and broke away with 19 MLAs. At that time, BJP leader Gopinath Munde had taken over as the leader of Opposition.
In subsequent elections, the Sena always won more seats than the BJP and held the post of the leader of Opposition. In 2004, the Sena won 63 seats and the BJP, 54. However, a year later, Narayan Rane broke away from the Sena with seven MLAs and vowed to reduce its strength further. The BJP had then attempted to wrest the post of the leader of Opposition, but it fell short of the required number as Rane could not trigger another batch of defections.
Like the Congress and NCP, the Sena and BJP are allies as well as rivals for the same votebanks. In the past, the saffron partners have wrangled on several occasions over matters like seat-sharing.
For both the saffron partners, the 2009 assembly polls were different from the 2004 polls. In 2004 the BJP had Pramod Mahajan as its troubleshooter, while the Sena was intact. The following year Mahajan was shot dead by his brother, and the Sena broke up as Rane revolted to join the Congress and Raj quit, forming the MNS.