This past weekend, when India woke up to the news that a BJP-led government had been sworn in in Maharashtra, Uddhav Thackeray fumed: a "surgical strike" had been carried out on his state, he said.
Fast forward to Thursday. The government has collapsed, Thackeray is poised to take charge as chief minister, and another Shiv Sena man has drawn inspiration from military action -- albeit of the cinematic kind -- to target the BJP.
"How is josh?" tweeted Sanjay Raut, using the hugely popular catchphrase from Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019) -- a catchphrase often repeated by the BJP.
Raut added: "Jai Maharashtra."
The Shiv Sena's mood may be upbeat now, but its leaders weren't smiling on Saturday when Ajit Pawar, a NCP leader who they thought was on their side, helped the BJP pull off a stunning coup and return to power.
Also Read: Sanjay Raut takes a jibe on Ajit Pawar role in new Maharashtra govt: Kitna bada kaam kar ke aye hain
But the Sena and its allies, the NCP and the Congress, didn't give up.
When the Supreme Court ordered the BJP-led administration to face a floor test, the chief minister and his deputy -- Ajit Pawar -- resigned, triggering the government's collapse.
Now Uddhav Thackeray is all set to be sworn in. He will take oath this evening shortly before 7 pm at Mumbai's Shivaji Park.