BJP sees end of the road with Sena

The BJP has decided at last to emerge from the shadows of long-term alliance partner the Shiv Sena and re-establish its independent political identity in Maharashtra. The party is likely to tell Sena chief Bal Thackeray in the days to come that it will contest all local body elections between now and 2014 alone.

Also, with state unit president Nitin Gadkari set to take over the party’s reins in Delhi, the BJP has decided to give charge of the Maharashtra unit to the second rung. At a meeting of the BJP executive in the city 10 days ago, it was decided that Gadkari and party general secretary Gopinath Munde will only be ‘advisers’ in Maharashtra.

The leaders entrusted with the task of reviving the cadres are Vinod Tawde (Mumbai/Konkan), Devendra Phadnavis, Sanjay Dhotre (Vidarbha), Girish Mahajan (North Maharashtra), Raosaheb Danve and Amarsinh Pandit (Marathwada), and Chandrakant Patil and Pramod Shendge (W Maharashtra).

A senior BJP leader said, “The biggest challenge for us is to set our house in order. If we continue to live in the Sena’s shadow, we will not be able to revive the party.”

According to insiders, the BJP’s pan-India image does not allow it to accept the regional agenda of the Sena, aimed primarily at countering the MNS. “The next state elections are scheduled for 2014,” said the BJP politician. “Till then, there is no question of an alliance with the Sena. It is high time we plan our own road map.”