It is not mere coincidence that soon after NCP chief Sharad Pawar said supporting the BJP government was not an onerous job for his party, the Shiv Sena decided to effect some changes in its panel of spokespersons and relieved MP Sanjay Raut from the job. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s statement — that the criticism he had to face in the three days after winning the vote of confidence was more than what he had come across in his 22-year-long political career — also comes at a crucial time.

It seems the time for political realignment has come, albeit earlier than it was expected. Sena man Raut had to go following his impromptu reaction to Pawar’s statement while addressing his party men at Alibaug. Raut had already been on the BJP’s radar for his stinging remarks and writings in party mouthpiece Saamana. For the BJP, Sena’s decision comes at a time when different voices are emanating within the party over taking NCP’s support to run the state government.