It is to be seen how the CM gets his big brother to concede more seats even as the ally wants him to scale down the demand

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Pic/PTI

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s ‘Mala halkyat gheu naka (don’t take me lightly)’ remark has gone a long way at least, in his seat-sharing talks with the Bharatiya Janata Party and Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar). Made during his Dussehra rally speech, the statement was interpreted as a caution for all who cross the CM’s path to the Assembly elections. The allies, too, are proving to be a hurdle for Shinde’s bid to get as many seats of the 288-member Lower House. While this piece was being written, Shinde hadn’t conceded to the demand, pressed hard by the BJP to settle for the numbers less than he had demanded. Reports from New Delhi said that he was still being convinced by the BJP’s top leadership. The deal for Shinde could be compensation in the future. In what form? We don’t know yet.

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Shinde’s confidence stems from his party’s Lok Sabha performance which was better than the big brother BJP. His candidates largely remained unscathed by factors such as Maratha’s........

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