MVA HAS KHICHDI ALL OVER ITS FACE

Advantage BJP, as MVA implodes

The decision of the Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray to unilaterally announce 17 candidates even before the conclusion of the seat-sharing talks with its Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) partners has brought to the fore the cracks within the alliance at this crucial prepoll juncture.

The Congress has questioned the fate of the MVA and the INDIA bloc in Maharashtra as the filing of nominations for the first phase ended on Wednesday. On the heels of this development, the Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi's move to go solo by announcing seven of its own candidates, has further harmed the prospects of a non-BJP front in the state, paving the way for the BJP-led Mahayuti to exploit the political development and extract mileage.

The BJP is expected to take full advantage of a divided opposition to achieve its Mission 45plus with its allies -- the Shiv Sena, the NCP, the Rashtriya Samaj Paksha and the Republican Party of India - firmly ensconced in its camp, even as the acid test for the Shiv Sena UBT, Congress and the NCP will be to avoid a split in votes because of their differences and the VBA's googly.

What had earlier appeared to be smooth sailing for the MVA to take on the BJP by targeting its double Operation Lotus in Maharashtra has now become a near-impossible task. However, for the BJP it is an unmissable opportunity, which it certainly will not pass up -the chance to score brownie points over a divided opposition while consolidating its own position with the help of allies.