MUMBAI: Uddhav Thackeray, the former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, is grappling with significant political difficulties following his controversial decision to join forces with Congress and Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

In the 2019 assembly elections, the Shiv Sena and BJP alliance secured a majority with 161 seats, BJP winning 105 and Shiv Sena 56. However, when the BJP struggled to form a government without Thackeray's support, he left the alliance and allied with Congress and NCP to become Chief Minister.

Thackeray's leadership during his tenure has been marked by criticism. He faced challenges managing the government, lacked familiarity with parliamentary procedures, and rarely visited the Chief Minister's office. His responses to opposition questions were often inadequate, and internal party conflicts arose, with several ministers and MLAs expressing dissatisfaction with his leadership.

Critics argue that Congress and NCP exploited Thackeray for their own electoral benefits. While Thackeray secured votes from Congress and NCP supporters, his party did not receive equivalent support in return. His ambition to become Chief Minister came at the expense of Shiv Sena's reputation and its founder, Balasaheb Thackeray.

Congress leaders and Sharad Pawar have begun targeting Thackeray, viewing him as a vulnerable link in the coalition government. Thackeray's unilateral decision to announce a candidate for the Sangli Lok Sabha Constituency without consulting Congress led to the election of a rebel candidate. Sharad Pawar also expressed displeasure when Thackeray filed his personal secretary's application for the Legislative Assembly elections.

Congress and Pawar's strategy appears aimed at weakening Thackeray's position while enhancing their own standing for future elections. Thackeray, facing a fractured party and dwindling support, seems to be caught in a precarious situation. Recently, accusations from Shri Manoj Jarange Patil, suggesting Thackeray's attempt to frame him, have further strained relations within the alliance, with speculation that Pawar may have influenced these allegations.

The ongoing tensions reveal that despite political alliances, internal conflicts and power struggles persist. Congress and NCP are leveraging their partnership with Thackeray for electoral gains while undermining his leadership.

Thackeray's politically opportunistic decisions and betrayal of the BJP have led to a significant fallout. As Congress and Sharad Pawar work to diminish his influence, Thackeray's political future remains uncertain, illustrating how political alliances can often lead to unexpected consequences.

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