Tiger with Clock sniffs Lotus in Shiv Sena's party symbol-filled post

While saffron alliance - 'Mahayuti' retained power in Maharashtra Assembly polls on Thursday, improved status of Shiv Sena and diminished power of BJP has put Sena on front foot. This confidence was displayed on Friday by Sena's Rajya Sabha MP and Saamna editor Sanjay Raut, who tweeted a caricature of a 'tiger' smelling a 'lotus' indulgently while wearing a 'clock' (timepiece) around its neck. caption on Raut's tweet read ' wonder of a satire artist. Don't get offended, it's Diwali'. cartoon tiger also has an open paw, with its claw out, alluding to Sena ready to strike.

Raut's satire on mandate

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Shiv Sena's growing power over BJP?

cryptic caricature has raised many eyebrows on Sena's growing power over its ally BJP. With BJP's diminished final tally of 105 compared to 122 in 2014 Sena improved its strike rate securing 56 of 124 seats contested compared to 63 seats of 282 seats. tweet alluded to this fact, as Sena has also reminded CM Fadnavis of 50:50 alliance agreed upon prior to polls. Apart from this, posters were also spotted in Worli on Friday, demanding Yuva Sena chief and newly elected MLA Aaditya Thackeray be made CM; which has been a long-standing Sena demand. above tweet seemed to allude to power Sena held w in Maharashtra over its ally, while talks about CM post will be held between party chiefs.

READ | Maharashtra: NCP alleges Shiv Sena ultimatum to BJP over CM's post

Shiv Sena- NCP alliance?

Meanwhile, 'clock' featured on cartoon alluded to fact that NCP had allegedly offered an ally with Shiv Sena on Thursday, as initial poll trends indicated that NCP and Congress had performed better than expected. Claiming that re is a rift between BJP and Shiv Sena, NCP's Nawab Malik had said, "Let's wait. Politics is all about game of possibilities." Both NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Sena Supremo Uddhav Thackeray had denied any such offers and has refused to ally with each or, adding it will remain in 'Mahayuti'.

READ | Maharashtra Election Results 2019: Sharad Pawar mulling Sena alliance?

Poll results in Maharashtra 

saffron alliance swept Maharashtra on Thursday, winning a combined tally of 161 (BJP- 105, Sena -56) to award CM Devendra Fadnavis a second term. But comeback of 'Maha- Agadhi' alliance (NCP-Congress) took Mahayuti by surprise as NCP bagged 54 seats while languishing Congress too bagged 44 seats. Though BJP-Shiv Sena alliance will form next government, it was handed a diminished mandate compared to 2014 where it won 185 seats.

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