Maharashtra Elections

Maharashtra elections

Maharashtra polls gave NDA the first chance to strike back at the Congress which had wrested power along with its allies at the Centre. The BJP entrusted the task to Pramod Mahajan who was given the sole responsibility of working out arrangements with the Shiv Sena as also to devise the poll strategy.

While Mahajan did not endear himself to his own party cadres, the Shiv Sena faced an internal crisis with the power struggle between Bal Thackeray's son Uddhav and nephew Raj demoralising the cadre. Tickets were distributed on the basis of who was close to whom and not to those who deserved them.

The internal factional fight was something which the Congress-NCP government was waiting for. The government under Sushil Kumar Shinde was able to fight back the anti incumbency factor and also take advantage of the presence of Shiv Sena dissidents in the fray.

While the contest was expected to lead to a photo finish, the Congress-NCP combine romped home to victory. The surprise element was that the NCP emerged as the single largest party. A battle of wits followed the victory between the Congress and the NCP and ultimately Vilasrao Deshmukh of Congress was made the chief minister. Shinde was exiled from state politics and made Governor of Andhra Pradesh.

- Pankaj Vohra, Political Editor, Hindustan Times