MNS chief Raj Thackeray claims Uddhav Thackeray ignored Shiv Sena-MNS alliance talks after initial discussions

MNS chief Raj Thackeray has claimed that a Shiv Sena-MNS alliance in Maharashtra did not happen because Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray did not take the initiative, following the Sena-BJP split. He also provided details of how and why the alliance could not go through.

Speaking to a news channel, Thackeray said," After the Sena-BJP break-up, I had discussed an alliance with Uddhav. But since Sena leaders did not get in touch with us, we could not forge an alliance."

"We were waiting for a call from Sena's side, but till late evening we did not get any response from the Sena and therefore on the next day we distributed forms to our candidates," he said.

He added, "Uddhav said to me that the two parties should discuss matters and not criticise each other in rallies. We decided that two people each from the MNS and Shiv Sena would take alliance talks further. For MNS, it was Bala Nandgaonkar and Nitin Sardesai. For the Sena, it was Anil Desai and another leader. But Desai did not respond to Nandgaokar's calls".

After the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) broke their 25-year-old alliance, political experts had predicted the possibility of the Sena and the MNS coming together post the assembly polls. Moreover, both Uddhav and Raj Thackeray have been severely criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP of late. 

A day ago, Raj had also criticised Modi for being busy in campaigning for the assembly polls while Pakistani troops violated ceasefire, firing along international border posts and killing Indian jawans.