Uddhav Thackeray asks BJP to clarify its stand on MNS

Mumbai, March 11: Adopting an aggressive posture, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray today sought clarifications from the

regarding their stand on

-led MNS.

Posing questions before the BJP, Uddhav, without naming his estranged cousin, hit out saying that some people do anything to be in power. "BJP should clarify who is authorised in Maharashtra BJP to take decisions?" Uddhav asked in the aftermath of former BJP chief Nitin Gadkari's recent meeting with the MNS leader. He was addressing mediapersons at his party headquarters Sena Bhawan after meeting office-bearers and the party's Lok Sabha candidates. He said Sena has good equations with Gopinath Munde and his team. "However, suddenly some people jumped into the middle to take credit," Uddhav said.

He also asked the BJP to clarify their stand on whether it will be okay for the party to take anybody's support like that taken by AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal in forming the government in Delhi. "If need arises, will you (BJP) take anybody's support... like that done by Kejriwal...like former Prime Minister Chandrashekhar took support of Rajiv Gandhi. Will they take support of Congress also if needed?" Uddhav asked.

If such is the thing, then what is the difference between us and Kejriwal? he questioned. "We (Shiv Sena-BJP) have come together on the issue of hindutva. We were with them even when they were in crisis...however now the situation has started improving (for them)," he pointed out.

Uddhav also said that he would talk to BJP chief Rajnath Singh on the issue, which has strained the relationship between the two-decade-old alliance partners. MNS recently declared that it would challenge Sena in all seats in Lok Sabha polls, but will support Narendra Modi's candidacy as Prime Minister.

Earlier, seeking to placate the Shiv Sena which is miffed over the recent thaw between BJP and MNS, Maharashtra BJP president Devendra Fadnavis met Uddhav.

"I conveyed to Uddhavji that BJP considers Sena its natural and trusted ally," Fadnavis said after the meeting.

PTI