Sena men burn effigy of Mumbai BJP chief over 'demon' remark

Mumbai, July 7: A day before the expansion of the Maharashtra Cabinet, Shiv Sena workers today burnt an effigy of Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar over his "demon" remark, which apparently alluded to frequent digs and taunts took by the Sena at the senior partner.

Speaking at a party meet here last evening, Shelar, without naming Shiv Sena, had invoked a fable from 'Mahabharat', of a "small demon making too much of a noise".

Shelar also went on to add that BJP's 'Lord Krishna', a reference to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, would ensure that this demon would be bottled during the ensuing Mumbai civic polls.

Today, Shelar said his analogy was twisted by media to create tension in the government. "I had narrated that tale only with the aim of making BJP workers understand that in every election, the tools are different," Shelar said.

The 20-month-old Fadnavis cabinet is slated to be expanded tomorrow but there is no word yet on Shiv Sena getting any additional berth, after the BJP gave its ally the could shoulder in the Union Cabinet expansion two days back.

The state Cabinet expansion ceremony will be held at 9 AM tomorrow at Mantralaya, the state secretariat.

PTI