MUMBAI: Statements from Shiv Sena members that the party would support a Marathi person, a reference to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo and federal Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, for the prime ministerial post instead of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Lal Krishna Advani, has created a fissure between Maharashtra state allies Shiv Sena and the BJP.
The state BJP leaders expressed their anger against the Sena’s statements and indicated that if the party persists with its ‘Pawar policy’ then it would have to rethink its alliance with Shiv Sena in Maharashtra.
The first signs of cracks in the saffron alliance became evident yesterday when the BJP objected vociferously to the Shiv Sena’s stand of supporting Pawar for the post of prime minister. The BJP has asked the Sena, its political ally of over two decades, to make their stand clear at the earliest.
“We are in no mood to compromise any more,” said BJP state unit President Nitin Gadkari, following the Shiv Sena’s demand for more seats.
He said the Sena should clear its stand about whom they would support for the post of prime minister.
Also, the growing proximity between the Sena and the NCP has raised the discomfort level between the allies. When Gadkari was asked about the Sena move, he said,
“Earlier the Sena had decided to back L. K. Advani for the prime ministerial post. If the Sena is in favor of supporting Pawar for prime minister’s post, then it should make its stand clear. Otherwise the alliance will be in trouble.”
During the last presidential elections, the Shiv Sena had supported Pratibha Patil, who was the candidate of the Congress-led UPA against Bhairon Singh Shekawat, who was fielded by the BJP-led NDA, on the grounds that she was a Maharashtrian.
Meanwhile, NCP spokesperson Madan Bafna said: “During the presidential polls, the Sena had supported Pratibha Patil, she being a Maharashtrian; and this time around they have expressed support for Pawar, who is also a Maharashtrian. Moreover, Pawar is a personal friend of Bal Thackeray. If the Sena supports him, there is nothing like it.”
