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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.

The Nine-Euro Ticket–Our Journey Continues

Our explorations continued with the unforgettable 9-euro ticket, which we got immediately after COVID when we visited Germany. This special pass was valid across all local trains, buses, and trams—not the ICE or other high-speed trains—but it allowed us to travel freely across Germany and even to nearby border towns.


In my first article, I shared many of the places we discovered with this ticket. This is the second and final chapter of that adventure—a continuation of our explorations which truly opened Germany to us in ways we could never have imagined.


Our journey led us towards the Alps. From Garmisch-Partenkirchen, we took the cogwheel train to Grainau and strolled to Lake Eibsee—just steps from the station, yet a world apart. Nestled at the foot of Zugspitze, Germany’s highest peak, Eibsee is often called “an emerald in the Alps.”


Its crystal-clear waters mirror the surrounding mountains, dotted with small wooded islands and gliding swans. The 7 km lakeside trail offers ever-changing views: emerald waters shimmering in sunlight, clouds drifting over peaks, and hidden nooks inviting quiet reflection.


Eibsee is perfect for adventure—canoeing, paddle boating, swimming in icy alpine spots, or capturing postcard views through a lens. Sitting by the shore, breathing the crisp mountain air, I watched the sunlight dance on turquoise waters and felt time pause. Dipping my hands into the icy lake was invigorating, a blessing of nature in its purest form.


Vibrant Bavarian capital

Our journey continued to Munich, a city that blends history, culture, and modern energy.


At Marienplatz, the central square, I stood in awe before the NeuesRathaus (New Town Hall), its Gothic Revival façade towering gracefully. The Frauenkirche, with twin copper-domed towers, and St. Peter’s Church, offering panoramic views, added layers of historic charm.


Tradition and history

Nearby, the legendary Hofbräuhaus brings Bavaria’s layered history to life. Once the venue where Hitler announced the Nazi Party’s 25-point program in 1920, it now thrives with Bavarian music, hearty food, and overflowing beer mugs—a living symbol of resilience and hospitality.


Olympiapark and BMW Welt

The Olympiapark, built for the 1972 Summer Olympics, offered breathtaking views from the Olympic Tower and a chance to explore the iconic stadium.


Nearby, BMW Welt and Museum delighted car enthusiasts with vintage classics and futuristic innovations alike. Visitors can even rent BMW cars to drive around the city—a thrilling experience that brings the streets alive with energy.


Moritzburg: A fairytale castle

In Moritzburg, the fairytale-like Moritzburg Castle, surrounded by lakes and forests, stole our hearts. The still waters reflected the castle perfectly, creating a magical mirror image. During the royal fair, horse carriages, beautifully decorated, glide past the castle, evoking the elegance of bygone royal times. Watching them roll by felt like stepping directly into history.


A charming wine town

In Radebeul, cobblestone streets, historic houses, and neat gardens created a timeless charm. The Saxon Wine Route features Wackerbarth Castle & Winery. We enjoyed wine tastings and vineyard walks, as well as visiting the Karl May Museum that honours the famed author. For a unique touch, we travelled the Lößnitzgrundbahn steam railway, which links Radebeul to Moritzburg with open carriages and scenic views.


For a final adventure, we crossed over into Austria, arriving in Kufstein, the “Pearl of Tyrol.” A chairlift carried us to the well-preserved fortress with winding courtyards, secret passages, and historic rooms. From the top, sweeping views of the Inn Valley and alpine peaks made the world feel wide open. The fortress whispered of centuries past, while the town below radiated warmth. Standing in the crisp mountain breeze, I knew moments like these—shared in silence and awe—make travel unforgettable.


Reflections on the journey

Every place we explored—castles, lakes, alpine trails, charming towns, and vibrant cities—came together into one unforgettable journey. It felt even more meaningful after the long pause of COVID-19, when travel and togetherness were on hold.


In this field since 1999, I’ve spent 25 years exploring destinations and guiding travelers through remarkable experiences.


Visiting beautiful places and sharing stories with clients—whether seasoned travelers or first-timers—remains deeply fulfilling. Helping them feel at home wherever they go, while arranging every detail, ensures their journeys are seamless and memorable. The nine-euro ticket gave us the freedom to wander, discover, and create lasting memories. My message is simple: keep traveling, keep exploring—the world is full of wonders, and every journey enriches the soul.


(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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