The theater that is Maharashtra-Part 2

All these parties are already in the propaganda mode. While Congress-BJP alliance is harping on the development works in its ten year tenure, which is a classic case of self-eulogy, its rival alliance is also bent on giving prominence to Hindutva agenda. For a change, Shiv Sena under Uddhav Thackerey has really well etched out a role for itself in the sad series of farmer's suicide. The party is also taking up the load shedding issue, easily overlooking the fact that it can help little in the issue even if it comes to power.

Having set its target audience, MNS has little to present than the sorry state of Marathi people in their own state. Bad management of affairs by ruling alliance has made sure that MNS does not run out of fuel in its campaign. If MNS becomes a major power in the state after the election, it should thank more the ruling alliance than the voters.

As things stand out today, any of these parties can strike a partnership with any of the parties before or after the elections. It was rumours about Shiv Sena joining hands with NCP that is said to be a reason behind both the parties' debacle. It is after all only a question of convenience for the leadership of respective parties. One, NCP is fed up of living on the favours of Congress and want to have own rule. Second, Shiv Sena must have a partner to come to power as it is way short of winning the number's game. Third, both NCP and Shiv Sena thrive on the same electorate which mainly consists of rural, semi-literate youths and both the parties have same mentality. It is said about NCP that it is a party of fiefdoms. Shiv Sena is more than vocal in expressing its inclination towards the ancient way of politics. Fourth, Shiv Sena and BJP do not have the same cordiality that was 20 years ago. After passing of Pramod Mahajan, real connecting line between them has been cut. Present alliance is only a relic of two decades for amity. In fact, Shiv Sena thinks BJP more as a liability than the asset. Recent bickering in BJP at New Delhi only compounded the crisis. That is why Samana, Shiv Sena's Marathi mouthpiece daily recently compared BJP with the dead parrot while describing itself as an eagle. State leadership of BJP does not take it lightly but their hands are really tied. The party does not have a dedicated workforce to ensure smooth ride on its own. In its desperation, leaders like Gopinath Munde and Nitin Gadkari had even went further to suggest that their alliance should take in MNS as partner. The suggestion was naturally turned down by Shiv Sena because its rivalry with MNS is necessarily a clash of personal egos.

The world is a theatre, said Shakespeare. Now, Maharashtra has become an interesting theatre with a month long drama being enacted here. Let's applause the actors because without them, we would be left without any entertainment.