The good news for the NCP-Congress is that the rebels do not rule out the chance of a post-poll alliance.
In fact, the chances of a Congress-NCP government being formed would greatly increase if more rebels win.
If many of the rebels lose by small margins, they will divide the votes of the Democratic Front and pave the way for Sena-BJP victories.
But if they win they can negotiate for themselves a good deal with the Congress-NCP -- and that would include plum portfolios.
In the end they are all Congressmen who would be loath to join a 'communal alliance'. There is another problem: joining the saffron parties would kill the career of many of the rebels because, all said and done, the Congress and the NCP control the co-operative sector in the area.
Ninety-nine per cent of all sugar factories, spinning mills, co-operative banks, dairies, zilla parishads, corporations, and nagarpalikas have Congress or NCP leaders at the helm.
Madan Patil said as much in Sangli. "I don't discount rejoining the Congress. NCP is a big no. But Congress there is a possibility. Let us see how the situation develops and who gets how many seats."
As for the Sena-BJP, it can do nothing but back these rebels in the hope that they will cut a deal with them in case of a hung assembly.
They know that in western Maharashtra, only a Congressman can defeat a Congressman.