The swearing in of a BJP-led government in Haryana on Sunday might give some relief to the saffron party and its leaders, but issues remain. In Maharashtra too, the scenario is far from satisfactory to the party; the Shiv Sena flexed its muscles to extract its pound of flesh from BJP before giving its nod for formation of a new ministry. It is hell bent on appropriating the deputy CM post, a favour granted by the BJP to a newly sprouted Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) in Haryana. Overall, things have not progressed in a smooth manner in both the states ruled by the BJP from the front for the past five years.
As of now, it would appear that the new government in Haryana headed for a second time by Manoharlal Khattar as CM would be stable. The Jat quota issue remains. The JJP floated by the Chauthala clan has 10 members who will support the 40-member BJP in a 90-member assembly, while seven Independents too have extended their support to Khattar. The Congress with 31 seats can, for now, be relegated to the Opposition. For survival of the ministry, Khattar will have to submit himself to the deputy CM Dushyant Chautala, though a buffer has presented itself in the form of Independents and other parties. In the land of Aaya Ram Gaya Ram politics, the future will be uncertain, given the present composition of the assembly.
In Maharashtra too, the BJP will continue to face pressure from the Shiv Sena to keep the show going – granted that the present problems posed by the Sena will be overcome and a new BJP-Shiv Sena government formed soon. In both the states, the BJP faces a similar plight due to the failure of the party to get stronger mass support in the assembly polls. By extension, this would mean the chief ministers who led the party could not earn the confidence of the people. Yet, both Devendra Fadnavis and Manohar Lal Khattar are given one more opportunity.
BJP as a political establishment would not survive tests unless it projects strong leaders at state levels. Those who lead from the front in states should not fully be presenting themselves with reflected glory from Delhi. Neither Khattar nor Fadnavis could raise the public mood in the party’s favour this time. It is imperative they act in better ways if the party has to survive odds. This time, the complacence of the Congress leadership was to their advantage.