Just about 18 months ago, this state had elections to decide who its next chief minister will be. Devendra Fadnavis was the incumbent and Uddhav Thackeray his ally. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the Shiv Sena were testy partners, went to polls together, won the election, had a falling out over power-sharing, went their separate ways, and both tried to form a government with the NCP. The BJP failed and the Sena succeeded.

Mourners who lost their kin to COVID-19 at a crematorium in Shivaji Park on Monday. Pic/Ashish Raje