Strained relations continue between Shiv Sena, BJP: Joshi

Mumbai, Sep 1 (UNI) Senior Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi today admitted that relations between his party and BJP are still strained.

''The tension between the two allied parties continued with the gap widening and reducing at separate interuals Mr Joshi said while talking to reporters.

Shiv Sena-BJP alliance is the second longest in the country, which first worked out in 1984, and so far has contested seven Lok Sabha and four Vidhan Sabha elections and even came to power in 1995.

Ever since Shiv Sena decided to support UPA nominee Pratibha Patil in the Presidential elections, the relations between the two parties started souring.

Recently, in the Aurangabad-Jalna local bodies legislative council election, BJP preferred to support independent candidate Subhash Jhambad, who was also backed by NCP. However, BJP voters gave their second preference votes to Shiv Sena candidate Kishanchand Tanwani, which helped him to romp home.

UNI