As the BJP post-mortems its disastrous result in Delhi, ally Uddhav Thackeray has offered detailed if unsolicited analysis of just exactly what went wrong. "Neither (Prime Minister) Modi's appearances nor Amit Shah's strategizing worked," says Mr Thackeray's party, the Shiv Sena, in its newspaper today, stapling the blame for the defeat to the BJP's top two leaders.
Today's editorial in the Sena mouthpiece, "Saamana" pulls no punches in deference to the alliance that the party shares with the BJP. "The entire election campaign was run in the name of Modi... just as the party attributed its success in other states to Modi, they should do the same for Delhi."
"The Modi wave" is used by the BJP as a summation of the Prime Minister's popularity.
The newspaper also says that the BJP erred greatly by running a campaign that attacked opponents. "Along with Modi, all BJP leaders mocked at (Congress Vice-President) Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal in their speeches."
Ahead of the Maharashtra election last year, the Sena and the BJP went through a nasty break-up. The BJP won first place in the election but not a majority. The Sena, which was runner-up, was made to sweat by BJP leaders before they allowed an alliance, which brought Mr Thackeray's party back to power after nearly 15 years spent in the opposition.
India Now A Major Geopolitical Actor: Ex-Singapore Diplomat On PM's Russia-Ukraine Visit Party's Tie-Up With Ajit Pawar's NCP "Incompatible Marriage": BJP Leader Swift Justice In Crimes Against Women Will Give Greater Assurance: PM Modi INDIA's "Hit With Footwear" Protest In Mumbai Over Shivaji Statue Collapse Celebrated "Russian Spy" Whale Hvaldimir Found Dead In Norway: Report "It's Mom, I Love You": Mother Of Israeli-American Found Dead In Gaza "Time This War Ended": Biden After Bodies Of 6 Hostages Found In Gaza Rain Fury Kills 10 In Andhra Pradesh, Several Districts Flooded Far-Right Could Win In Germany State Polls For The First Time Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.