The Assembly polls in Maharashtra are taking place amid a mood of great ennui. For example, Chembur in Mumbai, considered a traditionally BJP seat, has gone to the Shiv Sena in the seat- sharing agreement. On Thursday in fact, 26 councillors and 300 Shiv Sena workers quit from the Sena citadel of Kalyan-Dombivili, upset at being neglected. The results of the election, the tally of Shiv Sena versus that clocked by the BJP is of utmost importance. A reliance on the Shiv Sena will end up strengthening Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s position, as peacemaker and experienced Mahayuthi hand.

Source: The Hindu October 10, 2019 21:00 UTC