Maharashtra crossover comes at a key time for BJP, but coalition may turn fractious

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Ajit Pawar's decision to join hands with BJP in Maharashtra and become the deputy chief minister for the third time since November 2019 (and twice before — making it a record of sorts) comes as a shot in the arm for the ruling party. What makes the development more reassuring for BJP is the decision of several 'real' NCP leaders to head to 'safer' pastures. Among those who crossed over, Sharad Pawar would be particularly peeved with Praful Patel, a long-time loyalist.

Barely three weeks ago, Pawar Sr appointed him as one of the two working presidents of NCP in a tactic to marginalise his nephew. While being part of the uncle's ploy, Patel was simultaneously in league with the nephew, waiting to strike the right bargain with BJP. New examples of cloak-and-dagger operations can be cited from Maharashtra's unethical and immoral sequence of events since November 2019.

A voter's quip was laced with sarcasm: for one vote, people have three chief ministers and four deputy chief ministers. But that's realpolitik, and BJP has worsted the Opposition. The timing is right for BJP because the efforts of more than a dozen opposition parties to make a common cause against it were gathering strength.

But with this move, the ruling party has delivered a telling blow to such aspirations. After the rejigging of political equations in Maharashtra, which elects the second-largest contingent to the Lok Sabha, the Opposition does not appear as surefooted. From the perspective of national optics, opposition parties will have to ensure that the next meeting is not merely held as scheduled, but progress is made on untangling the knotty issue of overlapping political presence in several states.