BJP firm on Chimur constituency: Gadkari

Nagpur, Oct 5 (UNI) Appearing firm on contesting the by-election from Chimur assembly constituency in Vidarbha, Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Gadkari today said his party had conveyed its stand to its ally Shiv Sena and the partner was ''free to break the alliance''.

Speaking to reporters at his residence here this afternoon, Mr Gadkari said the BJP was confident of winning the Chimur seat as about 90 per cent of the Sena workers have crossed over to the Congress along with its former MLA Vijay Wadettiwar.

The BJP had conveyed this stand and offered one seat from its quota to the Shiv Sena in lieu of Chimur, he said, adding that the Sena had accepted the offer with the condition that the BJP would not offer (a diffcult seat like) Latur or Baramati. The BJP had agreed to the condition.

The stand adopted by the Shiv Sena in spite of the understanding was unexpected, Mr Gadkari said.

''If the Shiv Sena wants to break the alliance, it is free to do so. The BJP will not break off on its own. We do not want the alliance to break down for one seat,'' he reiterated.

However, Mr Gadkari parried repeated questions as to whether the BJP would remain firm on its stand even if it meant a breakdown of 22 years of ties between the two parties.

''We have conveyed our feelings to the Shiv Sena. It is now for them to decide,'' he pointed out.

Mr Gadkari said the Shiv Sena had not yet made an official decision to break off the alliance, and expressed confidence that party chief Bal Thackeray would make the appropriate decision.

The Shiv Sena had not yet conveyed anything to the BJP either officially or unofficialy, he said. He had not spoken to any leader of the Shiv Sena since the crisis broke out last night, he added.

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