In politics, nobody is close: Bal Thackeray on Sena-BJP ties

Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray has given BJP, his alliance partner of over two decades, food for thought with his remarks on longevity of the alliance, saying he was not close to the younger generation in the ally.

"In politics, nobody is close to anybody," he told Times Now, adding that he was not ideologically close to the BJP's new generation the way he was with Atal Bihari Vajpayee and LK Advani.

"There is no question of being close in politics. (They) come and go. The spelling of the word 'close' is also different. You are close (to somebody) and you also close the door (on someone)," the 83-year-old Sena chief said.

When pointed out that he was ideologically close to the BJP, Thackeray said, "Not (with) this new generation. When Vajpayee was there, when Advani was there, 20 years back, that time was different."

Asked how it is different now, Thackeray said, "They are all newcomers before me".

Asked if he was ideologically as close to BJP as he used to be, he said, "In politics, there is no ideology."