Sunil Gatade | A ‘Cat And Mouse’ Game On In Maha As BJP’s Allies Are Getting Sidelined

Mr Shinde and Mr Pawar are virtually at the mercy of the BJP, which proclaims itself to be the world’s largest party. The party is feverishly widening its footprint under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah, and insisting that everything is fair in politics and elections

xThe Bollywood song “Matlab nikal gaya hai to pahachante nahi” perfectly captures the issues and predicament of the ruling BJP’s allies in Maharashtra, who are increasingly being marginalised in the premier state.

Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde, who heads the Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar, who leads the NCP, are in one sense in office but not in power, which is virtually enjoyed by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis of the BJP.

The “Mahayuti”, as the ruling front in the state is called, is lik