A wishful thinking or something more that the Maharashtra government will crumble out of its inherent contradictions. This may be a challenge for the Shiv Sena led government in Maharashtra but the bigger challenge seems to be emerging for the Bharatiya Janata Party to keep its flock together with the new ruthless friend-turned foe Shiv Sena claiming with élan that number of their tribe may go up to 185 that is 16 more to the present number.

Former minister in Devendra Fadnavis government Pankaja Munde appears to be in a rebellious mood. Proximity of two late BJP stalwarts – Pramod Mahajan and Gopi Nath Munde – with the Thackrey family is known to everyone. The way Pankaja Munde was praising Maharashtra chief minister Udhdhav Thackrey, it has definitely set the alarm bell ringing for the BJP. The government is very well saddled so even a bunch of five or ten MLAs will be welcomed.

Though Pankaja’s own sister Dr Pritam Munde is MP from Beed and her cousin Poonam Mahajan is MP from Mumbai North-Central but none of them have been given due recognition in the present dispensation giving them heart burn. So there is resentment in the extended family as such.

Another axis of resentment in Maharashtra is Nitin Gadkari whose supporters have all been denied Assembly tickets. So there is palpable anger among them party and some of them are looking for the right opportunity to hit back hard. But if the Munde-Mahajan sisters decide to go against the BJP and other leaders join hands, things will really be difficult for the BJP.

The Shiv Sena would definitely like to capitalize on the situation as this will help the party to expand its base for its future prospects. Twelve sitting MLAs were denied tickets by the BJP in Maharashtra during last Assembly elections. BJP's state unit chief Chandrakant Patil replaced Medha Vishram Kulkarni from Kothrud in Pune. Senior party leader Eknath Khadse and Vinod Tawde were denied tickets. So lots of firecrackers await in the Maharashtra politics from both sides in the days to come.