Maha polls:In the silver jubilee year, Sena-BJP calls it quit

After days of struggle and conflicts over sharing of seats for the upcoming assembly polls Maharashtra, the 25-year-old alliance between the BJP and Shiv Sena ended on a bitter note on Thursday. The official declaration came from the BJP's side which blamed the Shiv Sena of remaining rigid on its stand and was not caring about the smaller allies.

Indications over the same started coming when BJP national president Amit Shah had cancelled his Mumbai visit today.

According to media reports, a one line message regarding the same was sent out by the party's media department. Though there is no official announcement yet, some reports suggest that the 25-year-old allies have snapped the ties.

What if old allies part ways?

Snapping ties means both the parties, who have been 'ideological' allies for the last 25 years, will fight Assembly polls against each other. Both of them will field separate candidates in all 288 seats and enter into a fierce contest.

The brunt of divorce will be first felt by Sena as it will lose control over BMC

This development will further encourage the Congress-NCP, who have also been locking horn over seat-sharing, to severe their ties. Thus, making electioneering in Maharashtra, a four-cornered-contest between Shiv Sena, BJP, Congress and NCP. The State will be witnessing an interesting electoral outcome and the electioneering.

Who will face the heat of divorce?

Both the parties will lose from this divorce. Snapping ties mean losing the chance to rule State after 15-long years. The upcoming elections are golden chance for both the allies to get back into the power after 15 long years and they could not do it by parting their ways.

In State, the brunt of the divorce, will be first felt by the Shiv Sena. The party will lose control over the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The Sena rules the BMC in alliance with BJP and some other smaller groups.

Following this, the Shiv Sena which has 18 MPs in the Lok Sabha and three in Rajya Sabha may also announce its exit from the NDA.

While, larger impact of the divorce will be felt after the results of assembly elections are announced, but still the BJP which has always played the role of second fiddle in the alliance will miss its big brother in the elections. The BJP might be riding high after magnificent show in Lok Sabha poll, still it needs Sena's support to swim swiftly in the upcoming polls. Sena being a regional party has comparatively stronger reach and better connectivity.

Sena Vs BJP will benefit ruling alliance

The Sena-BJP divorce will give the NCP and Congress a chance of survival in the Assembly polls. Due to reasons like anti-incumbency, policy paralysis, corruption during their stint, both parties are staring at imminent defeat, but if Sena-BJP part their ways, it will divide their votes and thus benefitting the ruling alliance.

What next for both the allies?

Sources indicate both parties are now scrambling to get smaller parties on-board to forge a new alliance for the Maharashtra Assembly elections 2014.

They are making efforts to win over the smaller members of the 'Mahayuti'.

"Whatever happens, the allies will be with Shiv Sena," the Shiv Sena's mouthpiece, 'Saamana', was quoted as saying in reports on Thursday.

While, a BJP leader was quoted as saying, "the smaller parties know that their interests would be served only by aligning with BJP."