top of page

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.

Lanterns, Legends and Laughter — A Memorable Vietnam Journey

It was a bright Sunday morning, and as usual, we all gathered—something we’ve done for the past 14 years. We became part of this wonderful group back then, and since then, they’ve not only been among our genuine clients but also a cherished part of our travel family.


Groups like this—and many others—have travelled with us for years through our Travel Bhishi (community savings group) concept. Members contribute a fixed amount each month, set aside solely for travel. By year-end, the group enjoys a well-planned domestic or international tour, free from last-minute financial stress. After all, planning is the key to every successful journey.


One of our oldest groups is a team of doctors who’ve travelled with us for nearly 15 years. When their children were young, they started with Indian destinations—from Himachal’s snow peaks to Kerala’s backwaters, Rajasthan’s forts to Sikkim’s serenity. After exploring India, they ventured abroad to Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Macau, Hong Kong, Bali, and several European countries. Every year, we design something new for them.


This year, our journey took us to Vietnam—a land of emerald waters, rich history, and timeless charm.


We began our journey in Hanoi, Vietnam’s elegant capital. After a hearty Indian breakfast, we set off for the magnificent Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sailing across turquoise waters framed by limestone cliffs was breathtaking. The group relished local cuisine on the cruise, explored the ThienCung Caves, and rode bamboo boats near the cliffs. The laughter, photos, and camaraderie made Halong Bay truly unforgettable.


On the way back, we stopped at a pearl farm to see how pearls are formed and crafted — a fascinating experience. Back in Hanoi, we visited the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the One Pillar Pagoda, and the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university. Each site reflected the pride and simplicity of Vietnamese culture.


The next day took us to NinhBinh, often called “Halong Bay on land”. We glided through narrow waterways bordered by rice fields and limestone mountains, visiting the Bich Dong Pagoda and Trang An Grottoes—both postcard-perfect. This serene province, where scenes from King Kong were filmed, felt like a dream.


From Hanoi, a short flight took us to Da Nang, a vibrant coastal city. Our first stop was the Marble Mountains—five marble and limestone hills, each representing one of the five elements. Inside the caves, we found ancient pagodas and a former war shelter for wounded soldiers—a humbling reminder of Vietnam’s past.


The highlight of Da Nang was undoubtedly BàNà Hills, rising 1,487 metres above sea level. We rode the world’s longest cable car to the summit and marvelled at the iconic Golden Bridge, held aloft by two giant stone hands. Higher up, a beautifully recreated French village awaited—cobblestone streets, castles, and cool mountain mist made it truly magical.


A short drive brought us to Hoi An, my favourite town in Vietnam. Known as the “City of Lanterns”, it glows each evening with thousands of colourful lanterns reflecting on the Thu Bon River. We joined a lantern-making workshop, visited the Japanese Bridge, and floated our own lanterns—a moment of pure serenity. Walking through its vehicle-free streets lined with ancient houses and cafés felt like stepping back in time.


Before leaving Da Nang, we explored its lively riverside Night Market—filled with souvenirs, conical hats, and cheerful street vendors. The next morning, we flew to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam’s bustling commercial capital.


Here, we visited the legendary Cu Chi Tunnels, an underground network used by Vietnamese soldiers during the war. Crawling through the tunnels offered a glimpse of their courage and endurance. Some even fired the historic AK-47 — a thrilling experience.


In Ho Chi Minh City, we visited the War Remnants Museum, showcasing photographs, tanks, and aircraft from the Vietnam War — a sobering reminder of the nation’s strength and resilience.


From there, we headed to the Mekong Delta, a lush region of rivers and islands. Cruising along the river, we visited Unicorn Island, sipped fresh coconut water, tasted tropical fruits like dragon fruit and longan, and enjoyed Vietnamese folk music performed by villagers in traditional attire — simple yet deeply soulful.


On our last day, we explored Ben Thanh Market, the city’s popular shopping hub, before dining at Banana Leaf—a well-known Indian restaurant loved by travellers. The next morning, with hearts full of joy and memories, we flew back to Mumbai. This Vietnam trip was another memorable chapter in our Travel Bhishi story—filled with laughter, learning, and friendship. Even today, when we meet on Sundays, we relive those moments and dream of our next adventure—this time, our eyes are set on Egypt!


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

Comments

bottom of page