File pic: Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray
As the BJP emerged the single largest party in Maharashtra in the counting of votes on Sunday, its former ally Shiv Sena insisted that its leader Uddhav Thackeray would be Chief Minister.
"Whatever happens, the next chief minister will be Sena president Uddhav Thackeray," said Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut even as the trends indicated that his party would not have the leverage to push for the top post.
Mr Raut's comment struck a jarring note as the two parties made conciliatory noises today, saying they would always be friends and never political opponents. "In politics, we cannot disclose all the cards right now," Mr Raut said.
Last week, Mr Thackeray had been quoted by the Sena mouthpiece Saamna as saying, "If a chaiwala can become prime minister, why can't I become Maharashtra chief minister?"
This was his most obvious pitch for chief minister, but his party has not performed well enough.
The BJP looked is likely to fall short of the majority mark of 145 in the 288-member state assembly. But the Sena, which was expected to place second, was hovering at just about half the BJP's tally.
The BJP made it clear it would no longer play second fiddle to the Sena and asked for more seats than it has ever contested in Maharashtra. Both parties refused to compromise, given that the group with more votes gets to pick the chief minister.
The BJP's risk seems to have paid off, but "Brand Modi" has apparently not pulled the party past the finish post. The party will need help to form a government but it's not clear whether the gap will be filled by the Sena or other parties.