Eyeing post-poll alliance, Shiv Sena yet to take a call on quitting NDA

Even as it prepares to withdraw its sole minister from the Modi-led government, the Shiv Sena seems to be stopping short of completely snapping ties with the BJP, perhaps with an eye on likely post-poll equations.

Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray said they would decide on withdrawing from the BJP-led NDA after discussions with prime minister Modi. On Monday, Uddhav had said that the party's minister Anant Geete, who is in charge of the heavy industries portfolio, would resign from the council of ministers after Modi returns to India from his US tour, admitting that quitting the NDA would not be an easy call.

"Joining the NDA and then pulling out is not that easy. All MPs who have been elected and those who could not win have bagged the votes of both the Shiv Sena and the BJP. It is the people's mandate. A decision will be taken after discussions with the prime minister and taking into consideration the sentiments of our supporters," he told reporters.

Geete represents the Raigad constituency in the Lok Sabha. After the Modi-led cabinet was sworn in, the Sena was unhappy that despite being the second largest party in the NDA with 18 MPs and the only natural ally of the BJP in the NDA due to the common agenda of Hindutva, they had been given an "insignificant" portfolio while other allies like the TDP got departments like civil aviation.

The Sena also wanted more cabinet berths apart from gubernatorial postings and the non-fulfillment of this demand was one of the flashpoints in the 25-year old alliance which fell apart last week over seat-sharing for the assembly polls due on October 15.