It was only in 1990 that the state voted for a single party rule when the Congress, under the then CM Sharad Pawar’s leadership, thwarted a challenge from the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance, then under the late Bal Thackeray. Since 1995, the state has witnessed four successive governments ruled by political alliances.

The developments of yesterday can clearly be termed as a win-win situation for both voters — who now have five major political parties to choose from — and the local cadres of all prominent political parties, who will work wholeheartedly for their party’s candidates.