Thread by @Kal_Chiron

Shivsena has more ideological flexibility than BJP.

1. They can swing to progressive liberal avatar of Prabodhankar Thackeray.

Or

2. They can swing to anti-commie secular Marathi Manus narrative of pre Shahbano BT

Or

3. They can swing to post Shahbano Hinduhriday samrat BT

By switching to position 1, they can easily ally with INC (they were propped up by INC in first place)

By switching to position 2, they can easily ally with MNS, NCP type parties which are local in nature. No national ambition

By switching to position 3, they can ally with BJP

It is quite an enviable position, TBH. They've their vote share which more or less has remained stagnant throughout the years of alliance with BJP. It is BJP that grew (at expense of congress)

They can swing either way, if they have to without much dent in stagnant vote share

I hope they do swing away and revert back to nativist position of prabodhankar's bent.

In coming times, Hindutva is slipping from their hands and even if they continue paying lip service to it, it is useless for them after parting ways with BJP

Many sincere sainiks want this.

at 15% vote share (some of which will desert them as they ally with NCP or INC), they should forget being anywhere as near to power as they are today. In the long run.

Earlier they ally with NCP or INC, the better it is for their long term survival and power-perks and BMC.

Unlike sena, BJP (which in turn means RSS) does not have the option to leave Hindutva as and when its flavor comes and goes.

I, therefore, now agree with many of my shivsainik friends, earlier this toxic relationship with these pinDaris end, better it is for BJP.