Cong slams BJP for joining hands with Sena in Maha polls

The Congress today attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its decision to launch a joint campaign and manifesto with the Shiv Sena for the coming assembly elections in Maharashtra, saying that "there is no relevance in BJP calling itself a national party after this".

"BJP's decision for joint fight does not clear its stand. Does it accept the Shiv Sena's campaign against people from other states? BJP should explain, " party spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed told reporters in New Delhi.

"Sena had gained by its anti-South Indian campaign. BJP then had no government in South India. But it has a government in Karnataka now. BJP calls itself a national party but after this step, there is no relevance in the party calling itself a national party," he claimed.

To a query on why Congress was objecting to it as both the BJP and the Congress were in alliance in Maharashtra for a long time, Ahmed reasoned, "With MNS's latest campaign against people from other states and Shiv Sena, too, kicking up the issue to
counter the outfit, the BJP should explain its stand."

Commenting on the BJP's decision to make party leader Gopinath Munde in charge of Maharashtra for the assembly election, he said, "An atmosphere against people from other states is also building up in BJP. The way Munde has been made party in-charge removing Narendra Modi indicates that BJP is now following the line of Shiv Sena in this aspect."