Mete is likely to have a tie-up with Shiv Sena for giving a tough fight to BJP ahead of civic body elections in Maharashtra.
Shiv Sangram chief Vinayak Mete meeting with Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray at the latter’s residence Matoshree has raised speculations about whether both the parties will have an alliance ahead of the municipal corporation elections to be held in Mumbai and other cities of the Maharashtra. Two leaders had long conversation which might alter the political equations in the state. Mete who also is the chairman of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Memorial Committee had expressed his displeasure over BJP which had taken the entire credit of the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Maratha warrior. Since Shiv Sangram is the alliance partner of the BJP, Mete is unhappy that his party has been sidelined by it senior partner. RPI leader Ramdas Athawale has already stated that his party will ally with BJP for contesting the BMC polls. However, Mete wants BJP to take his party into confidence before making key decision ahead of municipal polls.
According to sources, “Mete is keen to have an alliance with Shiv Sena to counter BJP in the Mumbai and other municipal corporation elections to be held in the state. He had also demanded more seats for Shiv Sangram where the party has strong presence. However BJP is yet to take a decision on this issue which has miffed Mete. Therefore, he is likely to have a tie-up with Sena for giving a tough fight to BJP. He also had supported the Maratha reservation rally.”
“Mete is unhappy with BJP for sidelining its alliance partners. Hence, he wants to stitch an alliance with Sena which has always criticised BJP for its mode of functioning,” added sources.
Mete who had worked hard on planning the Shivaji bhoomi pujan ceremony had left early before the function ended as he was unhappy with BJP leaders hogging the limelight. He had also said that BJP should not be taking political mileage out of the memorial issue. Alliance partners have already criticised BJP for delaying the project by 22 months and to schedule the event prior to the 2017 civic body election.
On the other hand, Shiv Sena too is not pleased with BJP for hijacking its agenda of constructing Shivaji memorial. The party had erected banners at Dadar mentioning that it was late Balasaheb Thackeray’s wish to construct memorial of Shivaji. Of late relationship between Sena and BJP too had strained as both the parties are trying to upstage each other in the election.
