Debate: Is BJP-Shiv Sena Alliance A Good Move for Both Partners?

But after years of bitter acrimony, how workable is the alliance between the Shiv Sena and the BJP?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray.

(Photo altered by The Quint)

The BJP and Shiv Sena – the oldest allies of the NDA are back together, as was widely predicted and just in time for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

The two parties, whose relations have been strained for quite some time, on Monday, 18 February, announced that the BJP will contest 25 seats and Shiv Sena 23 of 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra.

The two parties will contest equal number of seats, along with their other allies, in elections for the 288-member state Assembly, due this year.

Is the Alliance Workable?

But after years of bitter acrimony, how workable is this alliance?

In a prime time conversation with the BloombergQuint, Loksatta Editor Girish Kuber, and Sakal Times Resident Editor Rohit Chandavarkar talk whether the alliance is a good move for both the partners.

Is it good for Shiv Sena, considering they have been so bitter and sharply critical of the BJP over the last three and half years. Can the cadres forget the differences overnight.

“There was no choice. They could not have survived the political atmosphere alone – with the Congress, NCP alliance. They were definitely led by the situation. The Shiv Sena would have ideally liked to take on the BJP directly as their (BJP) growth in the state is a threat to their existence.”

Girish Kuber, Loksatta Editor

Kuber added that a genuine Shiv Sena worker will not be happy with the alliance as they were prepared to fight independently in the Lok Sabha elections.

“The alliance will be seen as superficial,” Kuber said.

Did Shiv Sena Play the Role of Opposition in Maharashtra?

Sakal Times Resident Editor Rohit Chandavarkar said that the deal, for the last two to three decades, between the two parties has been that the Shiv Sena will get a larger seat share in the Assembly polls and the BJP will get to contest more seats during the Lok Sabha elections.

But the 2014 general elections, and the state polls that followed, changed that, said Chandavarkar.

He also suggested that Shiv Sena’s sharp criticism would have been designed towards having a good bargain for seat share.

“It has been understood by political watchers that there will be an alliance between the two parties. incumbency of the Modi and Fadnavis governments, the alliance between Congress and NCP would have resulted in their coming together,” said Chandavarker.

He added that the Shiv Sena could have damaged BJP in many constituencies, had it contested independently and that the leaders have seen the “larger picture” by coming together.

Maharashtra sends 48 Members of Parliament to the Lok Sabha, the most after Uttar Pradesh which sends 80 seats.