BJP’s Maha plan: Shinde to stay coalition’s face

After its historic hat-trick in Haryana, the ruling BJP has shifted focus to the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections, with preparations and strategy already underway. Senior BJP sources have indicated that the party will not push for its own leader as the chief ministerial face, instead backing the incumbent Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to lead the coalition into the elections.

A top BJP leader said, “Shinde will remain the face of the coalition as he is the sitting CM.” On the growing tensions between the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance and their third coalition partner, NCP, saffron sources suggested that NCP leader Ajit Pawar risks alienating himself if he attempts to break away. “Most of his cadre is disillusioned with Sharad Pawar’s NCP and prefers to stay and grow within the Mahayuti,” a BJP insider explained. While there is speculation about Ajit Pawar’s loyalties, BJP leaders maintained their focus on election preparations.

BJP sources also confirmed that any differences between the BJP and the RSS, which surfaced during the Lok Sabha elections, have been “resolved”, with both groups working in tandem again. The Haryana election results underscored the importance of RSS mobilisation, with the BJP benefiting from the perception that the state was at risk of falling under “Jat rule,” a message that resonated with voters.

Referring to internal issues within the Congress, a BJP leader said the public discontent expressed by senior Congress leader Kumari Selja, who complained about being sidelined, hurt the party’s optics in Haryana. “The absence of Congress’ top strategists was noticeable until the final stages of the campaign,” the leader added.

In Maharashtra, the BJP plans to replicate its aggressive outreach to Dalit and OBC communities, similar to its strategy in Haryana. On Thursday, the state cabinet approved two significant decisions: an ordinance to grant constitutional status to the state Scheduled Caste Commission and a recommendation to raise the income cap for the OBC “creamy layer” from Rs 8 lakh to Rs 15 lakh. A non-creamy layer certificate is essential to access OBC reservation benefits, and this move is expected to bolster the party’s support among OBC voters.