Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s ‘Mala halkyat gheu naka (don’t take me lightly)’ remark has gone a long way at least, in his seat-sharing talks with the Bharatiya Janata Party and Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar). Made during his Dussehra rally speech, the statement was interpreted as a caution for all who cross the CM’s path to the Assembly elections. The allies, too, are proving to be a hurdle for Shinde’s bid to get as many seats of the 288-member Lower House. While this piece was being written, Shinde hadn’t conceded to the demand, pressed hard by the BJP to settle for the numbers less than he had demanded. Reports from New Delhi said that he was still being convinced by the BJP’s top leadership. The deal for Shinde could be compensation in the future. In what form? We don’t know yet.

Shinde’s confidence stems from his party’s Lok Sabha performance which was better than the big brother BJP. His candidates largely remained unscathed by factors such as Maratha’s rage that went against the BJP, which dutifully managed to transfer its vote share to the CM’s party. It could be the same factor, among others, that Shinde is riding high on, and unwilling to scale down his demand. In the past two years, Shinde has wielded power and used resources to consolidate his position, knowing that the BJP cannot do without him, at least in 2024 (BJP’s Amit Shah has told the party’s rank and file that it would be 100 per cent BJP in 2029, but the pact will stay this year). Another ally, Ajit Pawar’s NCP, which was supposed to be BJP’s Plan ‘B’, is in the doldrums. It is fast losing its satraps to the Sharad Pawar faction. Ajit Pawar may have said that those who wouldn’t get poll tickets from him have left him, the outgoing doesn’t hold any good for his faction. Sharad Pawar has been wearing a smile that is laced with resolve.