Fissures in Sena-BJP widens on Chimur and K'taka govt

Mumbai, Oct 4 (UNI) Fissures are evident in 22-year-old Shiv Sena-BJP alliance on the issue of contesting byelection from Chimur and even on the issue of BJP sharing power in Karnataka, political observers say.

Chimur seat is claimed by both the allied parties and a final decision shell eludes them; on the other hand, Shiv Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray had demanded that BJP should pull out of Karnataka government on the Belgaum issue.

Rejecting the demand, Senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde said pulling out of the government would not solve the vexed issue.

Mr Munde today told the reporters that BJP has continued its claim on the Chimur seat and the party is ready to give another seat to Shiv Sena in next assembly elections which are due in 2009.

Former sena MLA Vijay Vadettiwar, a Rane supporter, has resigned from his seat and joined the Congress. The BJP has staked its claim on this seat while a local leader Dr Ramesh Gajbe joined the BJP recently and announced that he was ready to contest in the byelections as the alliance candidate.

On the other hand, taking a tough stand, Mr Thackeray had said that there was no question of giving up the claim on Chimur. To substantiate his stand, the Sena has organised a public rally on October 12 at Chimur.

However, Mr Munde was optimistic of working out an amicable solution on this issue. He clarified that the tension between the alliance on this issue would not affect local bodies elections and the alliance would continue in most of the places including the prestigious Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

On the other hand, on the issue of merger of Belgaum with Maharashtra, Mr Thackeray demanded that BJP should pull out of fH D Kumarswamy led coalition government in Karnataka.

However, Mr Munde clarified that mere pulling out from the government would not solve the vexed isue. He said the BJP supports merger of Belgaum and other disputed territory with Maharashtra. He further said the issue should be discussed between the centre and the states.

Meanwhile, Anjali Dighole-Rathod, daughter of former MLA Tukaram Dighole today joined the BJP. Mr Dighole was the former independent MLA from Nasik district and supporting the sena BJP government.

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