Allies Keep Their Honor Intact

It was no less than a clash of titans and the whole of Maharashtra, at least the Maharashtra that takes interest in politics, was looking at it anxiously. The Kalyan Dombiwali Municipal Corporation's election promised a close, almost bloody fight and it turned out to be so. However, in the end, both the two parties could claim final victory but managed to keep their honor intact.

Even though Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party share the power in the state and the center, neither of the parties shares cordial relations. Not that they had sweet memories of their co-habitation for the last 25 years, but their relations have touched ridiculously low during last one year. Ever since severing ties in last October, none of the saffron party has made any sincere attempt of reconciliation. Even after seating side by side in the state cabinet, they have not really accepted each other. Therefore, when these two allies faced each other in KDMC election, all eyes were set on what ensured to be the fireworks.

The campaigning for the election lived up to that promise. Both Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis left no stone unturned and indulged in freestyle wrestling with their verbal attacks. Cases of attacks, on the workers from and by both parties, were reported and registered. Even bullets were fired before ballots and the politics in this neighboring city of Mumbai turned bloody.

In the final phase of the campaigning, the fight became even murkier as Thackeray and Fadnavis dropped all pretentions and indulged in mud slinging. The verbal duel led to some uncharacteristic remarks as well by Fadnavis.

However, as results rolled out from the electronic voting machines on Monday, Shiv Sena seemed to edge past winning post during the early rounds and BJP managing to post honorable tally. However, the dance of democracy could be seen in full vigor by late afternoon, as Shiv Sena remained 10 seats away from the majority and BJP almost running neck to neck to it. It is clear that Shiv Sena will be able to muster majority, with the help from Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and independents, while BJP can boast of increased strength - its tally having gone up to 42 from the 9.

Neither Shiv Sena lost its hold on the backyard of Mumbai, its strong bastion literally, nor BJP was wiped out before the former's blitzkrieg. All other parties, including Congress, Nationalist Congress Party, MNS and others just drifted away in the barrage of these two parties; and meanwhile, Majlis-E-Ittehad-ul-Musalmin got away with two seats in its first ever test of strength. That was the real danger bell for the self-proclaimed 'secular' parties!