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InDepth

ades, Sena-BJP combo, though not presenting a semblance its terms for supporting the BJP and the latter’s reluctance
of a happy alliance, often fended off periodic crises; and con- to succumb to former’s pressure tactics left wide options for
tinued their political partnership by agreeing to let Sena the Sena to seek alliances with NCP and Congress. Nevertheless,
lion’s share in state assembly while allowing the BJP to have recentdevelopments have widened the chasm between the
major chunk in the Lok Sabha polls. two and it may not be engulfed soon.
A point of departure in relationship between Sena-BJP
combo emerged in 2014 when the BJP under the leader- CONGRESS+NCP+SHIV SENA ALLIANCE
ship of Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, having registered After prolonged negotiations spanning over a week, Con-
resounding victory in the May 2014 Lok Sabha polls, decided gress and NCP combine had been able to hammer out an
that the party should contest Maharashtra assembly polls of alliance with Shiv Sena to form the coalition government
its own. However, inability of the BJP to cobble up enough with Sena Supremo being the next chief minister for full
numbers to form a government of its own made the party to tenure and details about common minimum programme
turn to Sena for support. On the eve of Lok Sabha elections (CMP), allocation of portfolios along with allocation of berths
in May 2019, BJP aligned with Sena. During the 2014-2019 pe- in the Council of Ministers for each coalition partner as well
riod, the BJP had grown exponentially within Maharashtra as choice of Speaker etc., were reportedly to be worked out.
while Sena witnessed a split with the departure of Raj Thack- With major hurdle of designating the chief minister having
eray who floated the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (, which been overcome with consensus showedthat alliance part-
could not make much impact, and Sena under Uddhav ners were serious in providing a stable government that
Thackeray remained confined to its traditional strongholds. could last full term.
In the wake of underwhelming performance of the BJP in Many experts agree that the crux of the agreement
the recently held assembly elections and its inability to form among the alliance partners rested on the power-sharing
the government of its own despite its emergence as a single formula. According to media reports, the alliance partners
largest party, perhaps emboldened Sena Supremo to dictate were trying hard to arrive at a consensus on 16-15-12 cabi-

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