With 'operation lotus' having achieved the desired results in Madhya Pradesh with Jyotiraditya Scindia's exit from Congress, BJP insiders are hoping for winds of change in Maharashtra, too. The Bharatiya Janata Party's last coup in the state in November hadn't lasted beyond 80 hours but the MP development is likely to put the 100-day-old Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) on high alert.

The question is which of the three MVA partners — the Shiv Sena, Congress and Nationalist Congress Party — will be on the BJP's hit list first? Sources said creating an MP-like situation in Maharashtra was still a long shot but the BJP was likely to give the Congress some shocks. At least two former MPs from Mumbai are in touch with the BJP. One of them was in New Delhi in the week when MP strongman Jyotiraditya Scindia finalised a deal with the BJP. The first ex-MP held views that did not match the Congress policy and agenda. It is said that if things get sorted, he might be sent to Rajya Sabha (RS) from the Maharashtra BJP's quota. The other has met the BJP top leaders and also wants a RS seat. The BJP will send three members to RS later this month.