BJP ceded ground to Shiv Sena after opposition plot to topple Devendra Fadnavis government

NEW DELHI: The BJP's hasty retreat from the mayoral race in Mumbai comes on a possible realisation that it would not only lose the contest, but would also have to tackle a Shiv Sena-opposition tactical tango aimed at destablising the party-led government in Maharashtra.

Sources in the Shiv Sena said had the BJP gone ahead with the contest and announced its candidate, the Sena leadership was all set to retaliate by pulling out from the Devendra Fadnavis government, ending a longstanding alliance between the two in Maharashtra.

Waiting in the wings was the Congress with a larger plot to unleash had there been a Sena-BJP break up over the mayor's position.

AICC sources confirmed giving a go-ahead to the Maharashtra Congress, with the knowledge of the Sena and other opposition parties, to bring in a no-confidence motion against the government after tactically helping the Sena win the mayoral election by fielding a Congress candidate to make it a triangular contest. The plan was to move the no-confidence motion in the budget session of the state assembly that starts this week.

Sources said with the Nationalist Congress Party, Samajwadi Party and even the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena confirming tactical backing to the Shiv Sena, the party had an unassailable lead in the event of a mayoral contest.

The Congress, meanwhile, was looking beyond the immediate benefits for the party. It expected to gain from a Sena-BJP breakup, in view also of the NCP announcing a tie-up with the Congress for the rest of civic polls after the Sharad Pawar-led party's strongholds fell to the BJP in the municipal polls. The Congress was also hoping that the Sena would side with the Opposition in the upcoming Presidential poll.

The BJP had initially put all its might to get its nominee as the mayor of the country's financial capital. In fact, chief minister Fadnavis was personally leading the efforts to mobilise support for the BJP after his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi last week, before the party hurriedly announced its pullout from a bout with the Sena.

The BJP central leadership might have also been worried about a wrangling with the Sena sending a negative message ahead of the last round of elections in Uttar Pradesh, said a senior Sena leader.

With their relationship strained, it is uncertain how the truce that the BJP is buying with the Sena by pulling out of the mayoral poll will pan out in the long term. But for now, it will prompt the Congress to halt its no-confidence motion plan against the government.