BJP and Shiv Sena are at loggerheads over the chief ministerial candidate ahead of assembly election.
The Shiv Sena might be having an alliance with the BJP at the centre but there have been some differences between both the parties pertaining to the Chief Ministerial post in the state. The rift between both the parties was clearly visible as the Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray praised his party members for the party’s victory but failed to mention Narendra Modi’s name. On the other hand, when BJP leader Gopinath Modi spoke about Devendra Fadnavis name as a contender for the Maharashtra CM’s post Sena said that Narendra Modi will take a final call in this regard. Uddhav nonetheless is yet to decide whether he will contest the election.
Taking potshots at senior Maharashtra BJP leader Gopinath Munde, Sena said it will be Narendra Modi who will have the final word on the issue of Chief Ministerial candidate in the assembly polls.
An editorial in Sena mouthpiece Saamana said, “Munde has said he feels the slogan coined by some in state BJP that ‘Narendra in the centre, Devendra (Fadnavis) in the state’ is good. There is a lot of talk about CM candidature in BJP circles. The question is will Narendra Modi accept this formula of loaning Munde to the Centre and then send him back to the state,” the Sena said.
State BJP President Devendra Fadnavis has said BJP has sent Munde, who is Union Rural Development minister, on a three month loan to Delhi after which he will lead Maharashtra.”
Munde will lead the BJP in the Assembly elections scheduled to be held in four months. The Sena and the BJP have been at loggerheads since last year, when the BJP had not invited the Sena for their first rally in Mumbai on Dec 22 after Modi was declared the PM candidate. Thereafter, there has been lack of consensus between both the parties and the bitterness continues.
Shiv Sena was also unhappy with the BJP for offering the substandard heavy industries ministry to Anant Geete. Geete failed to join the office to protest against the unfair treatment meted against him as he demanded a superior portfolio.
Maharashtra, Sena MP Sanjay Raut said that Uddhav will be the Sena’c CM candidate, though they haven’t decided just yet if he will take the rough and tumble route of an election into the legislature.
After its impressive performance BJP wants to contest more seats in the forthcoming assembly election. In the year 2009, Shiv Sena had contested 171 seats while the BJP had contested 117 seats. Uddhav Thackeray’s party thinks that the BJP is arm-twisting their most loyal partner since the latter is in a commanding position.
