BJP must make its stand clear: Uddhav Thackeray

Mumbai, July 29 (UNI) The cold war between the Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra BJP shows no signs of thawing with Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray today stressing that it is for the lotus partner to spell out in clear terms whether it wants to continue the alliance.

Ever since the Sena announced its decision to support Ms Paribha Patil for the President's post, there had been a cold war brewing between the two partners.

Bharatiya Janata Party leaders Nitin Gadkari and Gopinath Munde had remarked that the party will decide on the continuation of the alliance with the Sena after August 15.

However, Mr Thackeray, while speaking to reporters here today, said unless the BJP spelt out its decision on the alliance in clear terms, the Sena could not announce its decision on the August 10 Vice Presidential candidate.

''How can we take a decision on the Vice Presidential candidate until the BJP announces its decision on the continuation of the alliance?'' Mr Thackeray asked.

It is the BJP which raised questions about the alliance before and after the Presidential elections, and it is for them to decide on the matter now, Mr Thackeray said.

He also said Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray was seized of the Sena-BJP disenchantment matter that has been haunting the two parties since last one month.

UNI