Encouraged with the outcome of the BMC elections, the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have decided to retain their alliance for the 2014 assembly elections in Maharashtra.
Encouraged with the outcome of the BMC elections, the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have decided to retain their alliance for the 2014 assembly elections in Maharashtra.
This has been conveyed to the state unit of the party by all-India BJP president Nitin Gadkari. Thus, signaling that its support to the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) in Nashik where it is poised to lead the municipal corporation should not lead to any misunderstanding in the state politics.
For over two decades, the BJP has to be content with contesting only117 seats and Sena 171 seats out of the 288 seats in the assembly elections. More problems would be created if MNS too joined the seat-sharing tussle. So, it suits both the Shiv Sena and the BJP to allow the MNS to lend them support post-polls.
The BJP said they would have to tactically work in advance to ensure the Congress does not exploit the MNS to its advantage in the assembly and parliament polls.
“Our central leaders have always indicated that the Shiv Sena and Akali Dal have remained loyal partners of the BJP in the NDA. Whether it is parliament elections or state assembly elections, the partnership between the Shiv Sena and the BJP is going to strengthen in Maharashtra,” said Vinod Tawde, leader of the Opposition in state legislature council.
Officially, the BJP leaders categorically dismiss the possibility of the party striking any alliance with the MNS whose performance in Mumbai, Nashik and Pune has been remarkable. Despite the concerns by top leaders across party lines that the Shiv Sena and the MNS should join hands to make Maharashtra a common interest, the possibility of such a development is being ruled out for the assembly polls.
“The BMC results have conveyed the BJP’s growth which improved from 28 to 31 seats compared to the Sena whose tally dropped from 85 seats to 76 seats. In that sense, the Sena and the BJP cannot take each other for granted,” said a state unit BJP general secretary.
While ruling out an electoral alliance with the MNS, the BJP is not ruling out floor coordination with Raj’s party to fight the Congress and the NCP in the state assembly and council. “In the budget session, we will take the initiative to pose a greater opposition by bring all like-minded parties to fight against the ruling Congress and NCP,” said Eknath Khadse, the leader of the Opposition in the state assembly.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}