AMN /
The war of words between Shiv Sena and BJP today intensified with the latter questioning the ally’s support to actor Sanjay Dutt in 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case and late Bal Thackeray hosting former Pakistan cricketer Javed Miandad at his residence.
BJP Mumbai unit President Ashish Shelar said, alluding to late Bal Thackeray’s support to the actor that what sort of nationalism was displayed while backing 1993 blasts accused actor Sanjay Dutt. Shelar said, those casting aspersions on our patriotism should do well to remember who hosted Javed Miandad at the Thackeray family residence in suburban Bandra, Matoshree.
Shelar said, in a veiled attack on Sena MP and Saamana executive editor Sanjay Raut, who has been most vocal in attacking BJP over the visit of former Pakistan minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri. Shelar said, Yuva Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray had attended Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s musical concert.
Relations between the two oldest saffron allies came under renewed strain when Shiv Sainiks blackened the face of Sudheendra Kulkarni, a former BJP strategist and organiser of Kasuri’s book launch event on Monday.
BJP may discuss probability of parting ways with Sena
Amidst signs of growing fissures between the two main partners of ruling alliance in Maharashtra, BJP Ministers and the prominent party functionaries are meeting in Mumbai today. The official agenda of today’s meeting of Bharatiya Janata Party Ministers and prominent party functionaries includes listing achievements during the one-year tenure of the BJP-led Government in the state and the nature of celebrations.
But, the issue of strained relations with Shiv Sena and probability of parting ways may also be discussed at this juncture, according to the party sources. Even as the Shiv Sena MP Mr. Sanjay Raut has asked the BJP to opt out of coalition if they have any problems with the ally and also targeted the Prime Minister yesterday over Godhra aftermath in Gujarat while he was the Chief Minister, the leaders of both the parties have sought to down play the statements. They have also rejected the possibility of Sena quitting power and asserted that the Government would complete its five-year tenure.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena has already decided to go alone in the forthcoming polls of Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation and not to have any tie-up with the Bharatiya Janata Party with which it shares power in the state as well as at the Centre.
But, the BJP leadership has decided to wait till Friday, which is the last day for withdrawal of candidature for taking any official stance. Shiv Sena is now set to contest all the 122 seats alone during the Municipal Corporation elections to be held on November 1.