Leave opposition, ally Shiv Sena firing salvo-after-salvo at BJP

The alliance, which is almost three decades old, is at its all time low. Every now and then one is left to ponder if the tie will snap.

The Shiv Sena, which is the oldest constituent of the NDA, is leaving no stone unturned to criticise the BJP on almost every major initiative or stand taken by the Centre. Be it demonetisation, the launch of bullet train or the election campaign in Gujarat, the Shiv Sena has openly slammed the BJP.

In recent times, Sena is cornering BJP from all sides and not just through editorials in their mouth piece Saamna. Sena leaders, including chief Uddhav Thackeray, are openly lashing out at the BJP in every forum possible. The two parties, who allies at both centre and the state, even fought Mumbai civic polls seperately after bickering over seat sharing.

The alliance, which is almost three decades old, is at its all time low. Every now and then one is left to ponder if the tie will snap.

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a grand function at Ahmedabad to lay foundation stone for buller train service from Mumbai to Ahmedabad, Shiv Sena sought to know if the Ahmedabad-Mumbai high-speed train project really fits into the needs of the country.

"We are getting a bullet train without asking for it. We do not know exactly which problem will this solve," the Sena said in an editorial in its mouthpiece 'Saamana'

On political developments in Gujarat, launched a scathing attack on the BJP over Patidar leader Narendra Patel's allegations that he was offered money to join the saffron party.

"Narendra Patel is not the only example of buying powerful politicians through money. This has now become a business in Gujarat...The way a game of gambling is being played in Gujarat, it does not seem like a hometown of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel, but has now become Prime Minister Modi's and BJP president Amit Shah's," the editorial in Saamna said.

On Thursday, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut not only opposed Rahul Gandhi being called 'Pappu' by the BJP leaders, but also said that the Congress vice president "is capable of leading the country".

Although BJP leaders are unhappy with the constant bickering with the Sena, they have chosen not to react much to the Sena's aggression.

It could be because of the political complusion in Maharashtra Assembly. BJP needs support of roughly 20 legislators on the floor of the assembly as it has 122 members and the magic figure is 145 in the House of 288.

Political pundits say that The BJP-Shiv Sena alliance is a marriage of convenience. They need each other for two primary political objectives - to keep the Congress out of power and to keep the flame of Hindutva politics burning in Maharashtra.

OneIndia News