The Shiv Sena might be miffed with the BJP after Nitin Gadkari had met MNS chief Raj Thackeray to desist from contesting the Lok Sabha polls but Sena won’t be severing ties with NDA. Earlier Sena had threatened to call off its alliance with the BJP as it questioned the motive behind Gadkari and Raj Thackeray meeting as it would only divide the Marathi votes. On Tuesday, several BJP leaders lined up to meet Uddhav Thackeray in an attempt to pacify him after he threatened to withdraw from the alliance with BJP over Gadkari’s meet with Raj. These included Maharashtra BJP chief Devendra Fadnavis and Rajiv Pratap Rudy. Inspite of having an alliance with BJP, Shiv Sena party workers won’t assist the BJP candidates in the upcoming Lok Sabha election.
Highly reliable sources from Shiv Sena party said, “Although we have not quit the NDA, but we are really hurt that BJP has shaken hands with MNS without our consent. Our party worker will not campaign in those constituencies where BJP candidates are contesting election.”
Attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said the party must clarify its stand on its alliance with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, led by Uddhav’s cousin and rival Raj Thackeray.
“BJP should clarify who is authorized in Maharashtra BJP to take decisions?” Uddhav asked in the aftermath of former BJP chief Nitin Gadkari’s recent meeting with the MNS leader.
Uddhav Thackeray said, “In the past whatever important decision has been taken through a consensus between both the parties. We had good equation with Gopinath Munde and other leaders from the BJP. A question arises who is the authorized person to speak on behalf of the BJP?.
Senior party leaders, including Rajnath Singh and its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi spoke to Thackeray and attempted to reassure him on its alliance with Shiv Sena.
Devendra Fadnavis, BJP state President said, “I cleared the version of BJP to Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray. Shiv Sena is in alliance with us from last two decades and the party supported us every time and even now they are with us. Shiv Sena is our natural friend and they will keep supporting us.”
MNS Chief Raj Thackeray has played his card well after BJP Leader Nitin Gadkari wooed him to support Modi after which he didn’t declare his candidate against BJP candidate. On the other hand, he declared an open war against Shiv Sena by fielding candidates from those constituency where Shiv Sena candidates will contest election.
