Thackeray mediates to remove strains between Sena, BJP leaders

Mumbai, Jan 12 (PTI) Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray hascalled for a truce between two warring senior state leaders ofBJP and his party to bring to an end their strained ties.

"BJP leaders should call the two over tea and end thisstorm in a tea cup," Thackeray said in an editorial in Senamouthpiece ''Saamana'' today.

His suggestion came against the backdrop of Sena leaderand former minister Suresh Jain and leader of Opposition inMaharashtra Assembly Eknath Khadse (BJP) publicly calling eachother corrupt.

"It is in everybody''s interest to end this row," theeditorial said. It termed the Jain-Khadse verbal slugfest as a"local feud".

Jain, who like Khadse hails from Jalgaon district, hascalled the BJP leader the most corrupt politician and demandedthat there should be "an inquiry into how he procured so muchproperty."

Khadse''s son Nikhil was defeated in MaharashtraLegislative Council elections last year and the BJP leaderblamed Jain, saying he had supported the winning candidateManish Jain.