The Maharashtra outcome is noteworthy more for the resounding defeat for the opposition than for the victory, by default, of the Congress-NCP combine. The BJP-Shiv Sena managed to blow a near-perfect opportunity. The cards were clearly stacked in the NDA’s favour, with an unpopular government in power for a decade, and with a poor record of governance. But, the NDA failed to cash in on the widespread discontent fuelled by farmers’ suicides, a woefully inadequate power supply, sharp price rise, the failure of the monsoon, the mishandling of the Mumbai terror attack of 26/11 and grossly adequate infrastructure in what was once the richest state in the country. The NDA could not even take advantage of infighting and sabotage within the UPA ranks. Nor did it benefit from the presence of the newly created “third front”.

The results suggest that the BJP and Shiv Sena are losing their relevance in Maharashtra thanks to a leadership vacuum. The Shiv Sena-BJP alliance might choose to blame Raj Thackeray’s MNS, which ate into the NDA’s vote share and acted as spoiler, for their defeat. But the remarkable rise of his less than four-year-old outfit is a direct consequence of Uddhav Thackeray’s failure to enthuse his flock, even though he had the backing of his father, Bal Thackeray. Uddhav may have conscientiously toured the entire state during the campaign, talking earnestly about development and urging people not to waste their vote by plumping for “dalals” (a reference to his cousin), but his sober message did not have the desired impact. The followers of a party built on sheer demagoguery and parochial passions preferred Raj’s rabble-rousing and shrill appeal to the Marathi manoos.

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