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By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

Mahayuti struggles with seat-sharing formula

Mumbai: The ruling Mahayuti alliance is currently navigating a treacherous political minefield. With the crucial Legislative Council elections rapidly approaching, deep-seated differences over seat-sharing have surfaced. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday offered a candid admission of these unresolved disputes. His statements underscore the immense pressure on the coalition partners. The state is preparing to vote for sixteen council seats and one bypoll seat in Nagpur. Voting is...

Mahayuti struggles with seat-sharing formula

Mumbai: The ruling Mahayuti alliance is currently navigating a treacherous political minefield. With the crucial Legislative Council elections rapidly approaching, deep-seated differences over seat-sharing have surfaced. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday offered a candid admission of these unresolved disputes. His statements underscore the immense pressure on the coalition partners. The state is preparing to vote for sixteen council seats and one bypoll seat in Nagpur. Voting is scheduled for June 18, with the all-important counting set for June 22. Addressing the media after inaugurating the Jawahar Balbhavan in Mumbai, Fadnavis sought to project a calm exterior. He emphasised that detailed discussions are still ongoing to evaluate various aspects of the electoral battle. He expressed confidence that the alliance would soon reach an amicable solution. However, the specific geographies he mentioned reveal the exact fault lines. Negotiations with the Shiv Sena are heavily concentrated on Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar and Nashik. Meanwhile, talks with the Nationalist Congress Party are focused squarely on Pune. Alliance Arithmatic The arithmetic of the alliance is proving incredibly difficult to balance. The Shiv Sena had firmly demanded seven seats even as the BJP was offering only 3. They justify this claim by pointing to their strong support bases in Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Sambhajinagar, Ratnagiri, Nashik, and Yavatmal. The Bharatiya Janata Party has a vastly different calculation. The BJP plans to assert its dominance by contesting twelve seats. This aggressive stance would leave only three seats for the Sena and a mere two seats for the Sunetra Pawar-led NCP. With the nomination process already underway, the clock is ticking loudly for the Mahayuti leadership. This intense internal friction prompted a sudden political maneuver by Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde. He flew to New Delhi over the weekend amid the escalating deadlock. Sena sources indicated that Shinde sought the intervention of the BJP’s central leadership. A Sena minister, however, quickly tried to downplay the optics of the trip. He insisted that Shinde travelled for an unscheduled programme before heading to Bengaluru for a planned event. Despite these official denials, the timing strongly suggests a high-stakes crisis intervention. Bitter Conflict The most bitter conflict within the alliance centers on the Thane local authorities constituency. Both the BJP and the Shinde-led Sena are fiercely staking their claims. A BJP legislator recently argued that political tickets should be distributed based strictly on numerical strength. He pointed out that the BJP commands 444 corporators in the region. In stark contrast, the Shinde-led Sena and the allied Jijau organisation possess a combined total of only 346 corporators. However, political reality in Maharashtra is rarely dictated by numbers alone. The Shinde faction views Thane as its emotional and traditional stronghold. Surrendering this territory to their alliance partner is considered politically unthinkable. This local dispute is already threatening to severely damage the broader coalition. A Sena Member of Parliament recently issued a stark warning regarding the upcoming Thane Zilla Parishad elections. He boldly asserted that Sena workers are fully prepared to fight alone and hoist their saffron flag, regardless of the alliance’s survival. The battle lines are extending further across the state map. The Sena is demanding the Jalgaon seat, which the BJP is equally determined to contest. Furthermore, reports suggest the Sena is preparing to unilaterally field a candidate in Raigad. This would further complicate the already delicate negotiations. Despite these mounting tensions, BJP minister Girish Mahajan has publicly maintained that the deadlock will be resolved shortly. A final decision now rests on an impending high-level meeting between Fadnavis, Shinde, and Sunetra Pawar. MVA Crisis Meanwhile, the political turbulence is not restricted to the Mahayuti alliance. The opposition Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi is dealing with its own severe crisis in the Vidarbha region. The Chandrapur-Gadchiroli council seat has triggered frantic political poaching. As many as sixty corporators and Zilla Parishad members from the Congress party reportedly went missing recently. Congress leaders have directly accused BJP legislator Banti Bhangadiya of orchestrating this disappearance. They allege he has shifted the corporators to an undisclosed location to manipulate the voting outcome. The Congress has responded with an aggressive counter-narrative. Senior Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar made a startling claim that over one hundred BJP corporators are secretly in contact with him. While Wadettiwar strategically hid their exact whereabouts, his statement highlighted a critical vulnerability. He suggested that the BJP is also suffering from severe internal factionalism. Wadettiwar warned that these hidden rifts will ultimately cost the ruling party dearly in the forthcoming elections.

Budapest: Where Christmas Lights Meet Timeless History

Part 2 – Continuing our European journey, we found Budapest to be a remarkable blend of history, architecture, healing traditions, and warm culture.

After Austria’s beautiful Christmas markets and glittering winter landscapes, we began the next leg of our journey—Budapest. This city has always fascinated me. Formed by the merger of Buda, Óbuda, and Pest in 1873, it is now a remarkable blend of history, architecture, healing traditions, and warm culture.


Budapest is known for many things: its famous thermal baths fed by more natural springs than any other capital, the world’s second-oldest metro system, and its iconic ruin bars in abandoned buildings. It also boasts Europe’s largest synagogue, a vast underground cave system, and is the birthplace of the Rubik’s Cube.


Yet beneath its beauty lies a painful past. During World War II, Hungary suffered under the Arrow Cross Party, whose brutal anti-Semitic ideology mirrored that of the Nazis. The most moving reminder is the Shoes on the Danube Bank—60 pairs of iron shoes marking where countless Jews were executed after being forced to remove their footwear. Standing before those silent shoes was deeply affecting, a reminder that travel isn’t only about beauty but also about remembering.


After the fall of the Soviet Bloc, Hungary slowly regained its freedom and identity. Today, like Latvia and Estonia, it remains more affordable than many Western European countries, making it an appealing destination for travellers.


Heart of Budapest

After wrapping up our Austrian adventure, we travelled by coach and checked into our central Budapest hotel. Everyone was excited—Budapest captivates you instantly. Without wasting time, we headed out for an evening walk to St Stephen’s Basilica Christmas Market, often voted the best in Europe.

It was magical—twinkling lights, wooden stalls, Christmas music, and the basilica standing like a silent guardian. We loved it so much we promised to return the next day—and we did!


We also explored the lively Vörösmarty Square Christmas Market, Budapest’s oldest. Another highlight was the 3D light show at St Stephen’s Basilica, which made the basilica come alive. Hungry from all the walking, we treated ourselves to the famous Hungarian chimney cake (Kürtőskalács) before stopping for photos at the majestic Parliament building.


Finally, a peaceful walk along the Danube brought us back to our hotel, our tired feet reminding us that Budapest is a city best explored slowly and lovingly.


Night on the Danube

The next morning, despite the cold, we visited Budapest’s iconic thermal baths. Stepping into the steaming pools while the chilly air brushed our faces felt surreal—just the winter magic we needed. Relaxing and believed to have medicinal benefits, it was easy to see why locals love them.


In the afternoon, we browsed the vibrant Christmas shops on Váci Street and enjoyed a delicious local lunch at the Central Market Hall, a historic space filled with handmade goods and traditional Hungarian food.


Our evening was the highlight: a Danube River cruise under a sky of Christmas lights. The illuminated Parliament, Buda Castle, and Chain Bridge shimmering like gold—none of us could stop smiling. It was one of those moments you tuck away in your heart forever.


Day Trip to Szentendre

The next day, we took a short trip to the charming riverside town of Szentendre. With its art galleries, craft shops, and colourful architecture, it felt like stepping into a Christmas storybook. We were delighted to find the Szentendre Christmas Village—a small, artistic market with handmade chocolates, pottery, candles, and local crafts.


Every corner felt warm and inviting. By evening, we returned to Budapest, grateful for the unexpected beauty this little town had shared with us.


That night, as I lay in bed, a thought crossed my mind: the more you explore the world, the more you realise how endless its wonders are.


Heartfelt Goodbye

Soon, it was time to say goodbye to Hungary. We returned to Vienna, spent a night at our hotel, relaxed at Café Sacher, and then made our way to Vienna International Airport for our flight back to India.


As I reflected on our journey, a few memories shone brightest: Rathausplatz and Schönbrunn in Vienna; the Cathedral and Fortress markets in Salzburg; St Stephen’s Basilica and Vörösmarty Square in Budapest; the warm thermal baths; the twinkling Christmas trams; and the sweet tradition of “Jézuska” (Baby Jesus) bringing gifts on Christmas Eve.


As a Maharashtrian girl raised in a Hindu family, Christmas wasn’t something I grew up celebrating. Yet I always wished to experience its true essence. Working as a tour leader and travelling with curious, enthusiastic people has turned that quiet wish into a beautiful reality—again and again.


May this journey continue—and may you join me on the next chapter of Europe’s magical Christmas trail!


(The writer is a tourism professional and runs a company, Global Voyages. She could be contacted at goglobalvoyages@gmail.com. Views personal.)

 

 

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