In the wake of successfully luring Bihar CM Nitish Kumar into the NDA fold, the BJP is now setting its sights on a new mission - "Mission Maharashtra." The party's core team is actively working on plans to reintegrate former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray into the NDA alliance.
Sources reveal that a senior Sangh official has initiated the efforts, and if all goes according to plan, Maharashtra could witness a significant political shift after Bihar.
Uddhav Thackeray's perceived soft stance towards the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sparked concerns among leaders of the Congress and Sharad Pawar's NCP, both part of the Mahavikas Aghadi coalition in Maharashtra.
Speculations abound that Uddhav Thackeray might consider joining the NDA alliance after he recently travelled with his family on PM Modi's Vande Bharat train.
Softened Attitude Towards PM Modi
During a recent visit to Ratnagiri, Uddhav Thackeray directed criticism at CM Eknath Shinde but clarified that he was never an adversary of the BJP or Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Notably, he had supported the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, even participating in their campaign. Experts suggest that Uddhav's conciliatory statements could signify a thaw in relations between him and the BJP, potentially impacting the dynamics in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections-2024.
Parallel to Nitish's Return
BJP leaders draw parallels to Nitish Kumar's return to the NDA and express confidence that Uddhav Thackeray's reintegration should pose no significant challenges. Uddhav's avoidance of direct attacks on Modi or Home Minister Amit Shah, even after parting ways with the BJP, indicates a possible smooth return to the NDA fold. If an alliance is rekindled, Uddhav Thackeray could play a prominent role in state politics.
Targeting Over 400 Seats
PM Narendra Modi, while addressing the House, disclosed BJP's ambitious goal of securing more than 400 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha election. Recognizing the importance of Uddhav's support in Maharashtra to achieve this target, internal efforts are underway to bring him back into the NDA.
Potential Bihar Model Application
Despite the existing alliance with CM Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena in Maharashtra, questions arise about how Uddhav Thackeray would join this coalition. BJP might adopt the Bihar model of the Lok Janshakti Party, maintaining separate alliances with both factions of Shiv Sena without actively pursuing integration. After Uddhav Thackeray's return, both factions could be allocated distinct seats within the NDA.
Leader of Opposition said this
On the other hand, Vijay Wadettiwar, Leader of Opposition belonging to Congress party, said that the statement given by Uddhav Thackeray on PM Modi should not be given much importance. I don't think he will join hands with BJP. Thackeray is a self-respecting leader and will not do anything like this, he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment