BJP plays the role of big brother to Sena by shifting the venue of campaigning from MMRDA grounds to Somaiya grounds.
Shiv Sena and BJP are actively campaigning for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election. 19th February is the last day of campaigning hence both the parties were involved in a tussle over who will organise the last phase of campaigning at Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) grounds, Bandra-Kurla complex. However, BJP changed the venue of the campaigning from MMRDA grounds to Somaiya grounds as it made adjustments for Sena and played the role of a big brother. BJP also wanted to avoid conflicts between activists belonging to both the parties.
BJP Mumbai chief Ashish Shelar said, “We have our differences with Shiv Sena. Since BJP is a big brother our party has shifted the venue of campaigning to Somaiya grounds. We have taken this decision for the sake of Shiv Sena.”
Earlier Shiv Sena had written to MMRDA to seek permission for campaigning activities at MMRDA grounds. Shiv Sena Anil Parab had earlier alleged that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had been imposing pressure on the organisation to grant permission for undertaking campaigning activities.
“Even though Sena had inducted Tejas Thackeray into politics but he is not active. Nowadays he is not visible at a time when campaigning activities has gathered steam. Even Aditya Thackeray has gone into hibernation mode. Thus Sena’s strategy of grooming youth leaders has backfired,” added Shelar.
“Sena talks about expanding its foothold across Maharashtra but Uddhav Thackeray is not campaigning in other cities like Nashik, Pune and Akola. On the other hand, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is actively campaigning for the party even in Vidarbha region,” he said.
Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray claimed that his party is functioning as a corrective force by being part of governments at the Centre and in Maharashtra to “control” the anti-people policies.
“We have seen that if power is not controlled, it becomes uncontrollable. Being in the government we tried to keep (the BJP) in control,” Thackeray said.
“While being a part of the government, Sena opposed many policies that were anti-India and anti-people and today those policies are stuck. Be it the Land Acquisition Bill or the GST Bill, we made them make the necessary amendments,” he added.
Ever since Sena has been giving hints about the possibility of severing ties with BJP both parties have been issuing statements against each other. On one hand, grassroot workers want Sena to break the alliance with BJP and start preparing for the 2019 assembly polls singlehandedly on the other hand Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is confident that the government will complete its full term.
