Shiv Sena should quit government before targeting PM Narendra Modi, says Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar

Stung by Uddhav's comment, an angry Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar had said Shiv Sena should 'quit the government' before targeting Modi.

"If you intend to point barbs at Modiji, who is among the tallest leaders of the BJP and the Prime Minister of this country, then do not stay in the government. Have the courage of first leaving power and then point barbs," Shelar said.

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The sharp exchanges between the Hindutva fellow travellers have brought to the fore the underlying unease in their relations, first witnessed when BJP snapped its ties with Shiv Sena just ahead of the Maharashtra assembly polls last year over seat sharing.

Contesting separately, BJP emerged as the single largest party in the assembly but fell short of a majority, while Sena finished second. Shiv Sena briefly occupied the main Opposition's space in the House before realigning with BJP and joining the government.

However, Shiv Sena apparently is yet to get over the slight it felt when BJP walked out of the alliance midway through the seat sharing talks. Rough edges in their relations were all too visible when Sena attacked the BJP-led government in Maharashtra over its handling of agrarian issues, particularly farmers suicides.