Elections over, rivalry gone?

TWO RECENT MEETINGS HAVE LED TO MUCH SPECULATION

- SHAILESH GAIKWAD

With Mahayuti returning to power with a huge majority by winning 235 out of 288 seats and reducing opposition MVA to just 50 seats, it looked like the coming five years would see a clear dominance of the ruling parties. Things, however, may not be quite so simple. Two incidents in the past week have indicated that the political drama in Maharashtra may continue in the days to come.

Last Tuesday, during the winter session of state legislature, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray called on CM Devendra Fadnavis. They had rarely met since October-November 2019 when the Shiv Sena and BJP parted ways. The courtesy meeting lasted just 10 minutes but it indicated that the old allies turned foes are warming up to each other.

The next day, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar met prime minister Narendra Modi in Delhi and invited him for Marathi Sahitya Sammelan that is being held in Delhi in February. Pawar has taken the responsibility of organising the Sahitya Sammelan, a Marathi literary meet that happens every year. Modi has accepted the invitation to be the chief guest for the Sammelan.