Writing in these columns on October 11, virtually on the eve of the recent Assembly election, I had asked, “Will BJP sweep the stakes in Maharashtra?” The question was posited on the thesis that a four-and-a-half (the ‘half’ being Raj Thackeray’s MNS which has since ceased to be relevant) way split in votes would result in a full majority for any of the parties, more so the BJP, the main contender for power in Maharashtra.

In the event, the BJP did sweep the stakes, or sort of, because it fell short of the halfway mark and a simple majority by a yard and more. If the soured relations between the BJP and its oldest ally, the Shiv Sena — that had caused much acrimony during the election campaign were expected to improve after the results were declared, nothing like that happened.