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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.

When Austria Turns Into a Fairytale: My Christmas Market Trail

Europe’s centuries-old Christmas markets glow with a warmth that stays with you long after the journey ends.

Traveling through Europe during Christmas—to Vienna, Prague, Strasbourg, Nuremberg, Budapest, Brussels, Cologne, and Berlin—remains an unforgettable chapter of my life. Wandering from market to market in December revealed each town’s unique celebration of the season. Twinkling lights, mulled wine, wooden stalls, and festive music created a timeless, enchanting atmosphere.


Europe offers many beautiful Christmas markets: some world-famous, others intimate and hidden among historic lanes. Most are centuries old, rooted in tradition, and decorated with warmth that makes even the coldest evening comforting. I was fortunate to visit as a tour leader with our Global Voyages groups and at times with my family. Each visit gave me lifelong memories.


My dream of experiencing winter in Europe began years ago, and it came true four times. Each time, I had the privilege of leading groups during this magical season. In 2016, we were a group of 27 travellers—many visiting Europe for the first time. Their excitement mirrored my own. We began our journey in Vienna, explored the charming Christmas markets nearby, and slowly made our way toward Budapest. The tour lasted around ten wonderful days, filled with sparkling lights, winter flavours, and the cultural moments I had always longed to witness.


One little girl in our group was just nine years old during our 2018 tour. Even after nine years, she still remembers every moment of that magical trip. That is the true power of Christmas in Europe—it carves memories into the heart forever.


So now, let us begin our journey into the Christmas magic of Austria and Hungary. The next three parts will take you deeper into more wonderful European Christmas stories!


Vienna – A City Dressed in Light

Our journey began in Vienna, Austria. On the very first evening, we gently walked around Stephansplatz and visited the famous Stephansdom Christmas Market. The crisp winter breeze, the warm glow of the cathedral, and the comfort of a cup of hot chocolate—or Glühwein—set the perfect tone for our adventure. Vienna’s old-world charm truly sparkles during Christmas, and this energy filled our group with childlike excitement.


The next day, wrapped in thermals and winter jackets, we were ready to explore more of the city. We visited the iconic Rathausplatz Christkindlmarkt, perhaps Vienna’s most beloved Christmas market, glowing as a scene pulled straight from a fairy tale. We admired the majestic Hofburg Palace from the outside and then enjoyed a dreamy horse-carriage ride (Fiaker) through the illuminated old town.


Later, we continued to Maria‐Theresien‐Platz Market, where we tasted Kaiserschmarrn, warm sausages, and roasted chestnuts—the perfect winter treats. At the Karlsplatz Art Advent Market, we wandered among handmade crafts and watched delightful live performances.


Schönbrunn, Belvedere & An Evening of Music

Our third day was dedicated to the magnificent Schönbrunn Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with 1,441 rooms and centuries of royal history. Walking through its grounds during Christmas felt like stepping into an imperial winter dream. We enjoyed gingerbread and Austrian punch and bought a few handmade toys—each stall reflecting the spirit of the season.


Later, we visited the romantic Belvedere Palace Christmas Market, where shimmering reflections of festive lights danced across the lakeside waters—a moment that felt beautifully surreal. We ended the evening with a classical concert, a soulful highlight that left all of us deeply moved.


Salzburg – Music, Mountains & Mozartkugeln

The next day, we travelled to Salzburg, just 2.5 hours from Vienna. The scenic drive felt like moving through the pages of a snowy storybook. At Cathedral Square, we explored the Salzburg Christkindlmarkt. Then we rode up to Hohensalzburg Fortress on a funicular—a charming cable railway experience that delighted everyone.


We visited Mozart’s Birthplace, wandered the festive lanes of Getreidegasse, and tasted Salzburg’s famous Mozartkugeln—the delightful pistachio–marzipan–nougat chocolates. By evening, we returned to Vienna with hearts as warm as the treats we tasted.


Hallstatt – Austria’s Fairytale Snow Village

The following day took us to Hallstatt, one of the most breathtaking villages in the world. Wrapped in snowfall, surrounded by mountains, and mirrored perfectly on the sapphire lake, Hallstatt felt like a serene dream. Famous for its ancient salt mines, unique ossuary, and postcard-perfect scenery, this village touched us deeply with its quiet beauty.


The next morning, we departed for Budapest—ready for a new chapter of Christmas magic.

 

Stay tuned for Part 2, where our heartwarming winter journey continues into Hungary!


(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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