he biggest gainer of the elections is Shiv Sena. This is primarily because the Sena will remain an important partner of the NDA and the closest ally of the BJP. Secondly, will manage to claim a much larger number of seats when negotiating for the assembly elections, slated for October.
Since the BJP has returned to power under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Sena is bound to get some major portfolios at the Centre. But it is more interested in grabbing power in Maharashtra, for obvious reasons.
The Sena party chief Uddhav Thackeray deserves kudos for his deft handling of the developing situation in Maharashtra a couple of months prior to the Lok Sabha elections. The man who had been castigating Modi, Amit Shah and the BJP, suddenly changed his stance overnight. After placatory moves by the BJP, Uddhav hosted Shah at Matoshree and the two saffron partners began to behave like a recently reconciled warring couple.
Even more, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis played his cards well, convincing the opposition that the Sena was certain to junk the alliance with the BJP. In fact, many Congress and NCP leaders publicly praised Uddhav for his aggressive criticism of the state and Central governments.