Many Shiv Sena ministers are unhappy with the BJP taking credit for the work performed by them.
The ties between Shiv Sena and BJP have hit an all-time low as both the parties are heading towards a split. The relationship between both the parties has been strained after the Sena had protested against Pakistani artist Ghulam Ali concert in Mumbai. The show was cancelled despite the Fadnavis government assuring security for it due to pressure imposed by Sena. Later, Sena also attempted to disrupt Pakistan’s former Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri’s book launch function in Mumbai after party activist threw ink on the show organiser Sudeendra Kulkarni. However, the organisers went ahead with the book launch event despite protests from Sena. Thus a battle for supremacy is being fought by Sena and BJP. Both the parties have decided to fight the Kalyan-Dombivali civic elections solo. Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray is closely following the Bihar election and has asked his ministers to be ready to quit. Sena leadership holds the view that BJP’s popularity is falling in Maharashtra and the Sena will have to pay the price for it electorally. Sena is unhappy with the functioning of the Fadnavis government.
According to sources, “Many Shiv Sena ministers are unhappy with the BJP taking credit for the work performed by them. Many of them feel that it is better to sit in the opposition for four years instead of being part of the government.”
Shiv Sena had broken the alliance with BJP ahead of the assembly election last year. After the BJP fell short of majority Sena offered support to the Fadnavis government. The BJP also ‘reluctantly’ accepted the support and offered Shiv Sena MLAs minor portfolios in Maharashtra Cabinet. But the BJP-Shiv Sena relationship has been strained beyond repair in the last one year.
Sena has been criticising the policies of the Fadnavis government through its editorial mouthpiece Saamna. The party has ruled the city’s rich civic body for over 25 years and wants to continue to do so. To ensure that, it will have to part ways with the BJP sooner or later because the longer it stays with the BJP, the more the chances of a joint fight.
Both Sena and BJP unwillingly fought the 2014 Lok Sabha elections together. After Modi became the Prime Minister, he treated Shiv Sena with some kind of ‘contempt’. It was also offered just one Cabinet berth at the Centre. There have been talks of Shiv Sena pulling out of the Modi government for the past one year.
Shiv Sena also had protested against the BJP’s decision to implement a four day meat ban in the city on the occasion of Jain festival of Parshuyana.
