‘Holy alliance’: Congress takes dig as BJP, Sena become friends again
New Delhi, Feb 18: Hours after BJP announced an alliance with Shiv Sena for the upcoming parliamentary polls, the Congress took pot shots at the BJP reminding the ruling party at the Centre of the number of times Uddhav Thackeray's party has criticised it.
"Just a few of the times Shiv Sena has criticised the Modi govt., even as recently as today. This is BJP's idea of a holy alliance," the Congress posted from its Twitter handle.
The tweet was accompanied by a few instances of Sena's acerbic criticism of the government.
Just a few of the times @ShivSena has criticised the Modi govt., even as recently as today. This is BJP's idea of a holy alliance. pic.twitter.com/RUgCZhxSrB
— Congress (@INCIndia) February 18, 2019
Lok Sabha polls: BJP to contest from 25 seats, Shiv Sena gets 23
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the state Legislative AssemblyRadhakrishna Vikhe Patil dared Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray to reveal the reasons behind taking a U-turn on alliance with the BJP for Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.
"I have information that the BJP might have compelledShiv Sena to form an alliance by showing it fear of the Enforcement Directorate," Vikhe Patil told reporters in Pune, hours after the Sena and the BJP sealed a seat-sharing pact in the presence of BJP president Amit Shah in Mumbai.
The senior Congress leader said the tie-up underlines that the ruling allies have come together out of fear of losing polls.
Vikhe Patil wondered how could the BJP approach the Sena for an understanding when the Uddhav Thackeray-led party has been criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah by "crossing all lines".
BJP's alliance with Shiv Sena beyond politics: PM Modi
"The people of Maharashtra are mature enough and they will teach a lesson to both the parties. This alliance is a breach of trust of the people. It is ill-fated and opportunistic," he said.
In a tweet with a hashtag "GolmalReturns", Vikhe Patil stated, "As per my information, Shiv Sena is subjugated by BJP with by threatening the action by Enforcement Directorate.Therefore the declaration of alliance between BJP and Shiv Sena is taking place".
Vikhe
Patil
also
said
the
Sena
has
proved
again
that
"brokering
a
deal"
was
the
only
programme
on
its
agenda.
Recalling
that
Thackeray
had
borrowed
Congress
chief
Rahul
Gandhi's
"chowkidar
chor
hai"
jibe
to
attack
the
PM,
the
Congress
leader
accused
the
BJP
of
"forgetting
insults
heaped
on
its
leadership".
"BJP too has lost all its self respect as its President Amit Shah went at the door steps of Uddhav Thackeray with a begging bowl. This goes to show that BJP has already sensed defeat. #GolmalReturns," he added.
The Congress and the NCP also wondered if the Sena had forgotten the slogan that it wanted a Ram temple to be constructed first in Ayodhya before talking about alliance.
Maharashtra NCP chief Jayant Patil questionned if Sena has forgotten its criticism of Modi government on a range of issues and its declaration that it would go solo in elections.
Patil referred to the Sena's constant criticism of the government through editorials in its mouthpiece 'Saamana'.
"The
Shiv
Sena
had
compared
the
Modi
government
with
Britishers...It,
however,
has
forgotten
it,"
Patil
tweeted.
NCP
national
spokesperson
Nawab
Malik
said
that
fear
of
losing
the
upcoming
polls
brought
the
ruling
parties
together.
"People will defeat the combine despite their coming together...the Shiv Sena will have to answer what happened to first temple and then government slogan," he said.
Referring
to
Thackeray's
use
of
"chowkidar
chor
hai"
slogan,
Mumbai
Congress
president
Sanjay
Nirupam
asked
if
the
Sena
wanted
the
same
"thief"
to
retain
power.
"It
is
clearly
seen
that
the
Shiv
Sena
is
yet
again
joining
hands
with
the
BJP
for
power
and
that
this
is
a
selfish
decision
by
both
the
parties,"
Nirupam
told
reporters.
The BJP will contest 25 seats and Shiv Sena 23 of 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra. The two parties will contest an equal number of seats, after allotting allies their due share of segments, in polls for the 288-member state Assembly, due later this year.
(with PTI inputs)