Anant Geete rules out resignation, says Sena still part of NDA

New Delhi, Oct 1:

,

's lone member in the Union Cabinet, on Wednesday said he will not resign as Heavy Industries Minister after his party decided to continue in

despite parting ways with BJP for Maharashtra polls.

Asked whether he will resign, Geete said, "Certainly not". "It (the alliance) will remain intact at the Centre," he added. BJP earlier snapped ties with its oldest partner Shiv Sena after failure of talks on seat-sharing in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, ending a 25-year-old ideological alliance that had survived various vicissitudes.

Geete said he had spoken to party chief Uddhav Thackeray on the issue. "I have spoken to Uddhav Thackeray. There is no question of resigning. We are a part of the NDA (National Democratic Alliance).

"The government is of NDA and the Shiv Sena has a significant contribution in the (formation of) NDA government. 42 MPs have been elected from Maharashtra. The Shiv Sena has a contribution in that. This is why the question of resigning does not arise," Geete, who is the Union Heavy Industries.

PTI