MNS, other parties crucial for defeating Cong-NCP: Gadkari

Mumbai, Feb 24 (PTI) Supporting senior BJP leaderGopinath Munde''s suggestion of a tri-partite alliance, partychief Nitin Gadkari today said MNS and other parties areimportant for defeating the ruling Congress-NCP combine in thestate.

"MNS and other parties are important for ensuring thedefeat of the Congress-NCP alliance. We will discuss the issuewhich is in a preliminary state now," Gadkari said in aninformal chat with reporters here.

"The issue would be discussed in the BJP core committeemeeting," he said.

Asserting that the tri-partite alliance would have moreseats in the Assembly, Munde had earlier this month said thesaffron alliance lost as the MNS divided their votes.

"MNS got 13 seats and it damaged the saffron alliance''schances in 53 seats. If the seats won by Shiv Sena-BJP (90)are combined with 66 (53+13) it would be more than that ofCongress and NCP," Munde had said.

Expressing confidence of making things possible, Mundehad said "nothing is impossible in politics and I can makethings possible."

Reacting to Munde''s statement, Sena chief Bal Thackerayhad ruled out such an alliance with the MNS while RajThackeray had also ridiculed the suggestion.

Raj''s surprise visit to BJP office in Mumbai last yearhad raised many eyebrows. During his visit, Raj had met BJPstate president Sudhir Mungantiwar irking Shiv Sena, whichthreatened to boycott an NDA rally in Delhi then.