Shiv Sena blasts BJP, says don't count LK Advani out

Mumbai, March 22: The

on Friday slammed the

over its handling of the latest issue involving the nomination of party patriarch

. In an editorial in its mouthpiece Saamna, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said the mockery made about the issue was in bad taste and that the era of Advani hasn't ended yet, despite the rise the new leadership under Narendra Modi.

Thackeray said Advani might be an old man but he is still not out of the game. He said the BJP might think it is a small matter but it could lead to a huge setback.

The Sena said veterans like Advani aren't out even after the rise of Modi

The BJP saw a drama unfolding in its ranks after Advani refused to contest from Gandhinagar, the constituency in Gujarat where he has been winning since 1991. He instead chose Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. Even the sitting MP of Bhopal, Kailash Joshi, who decided to opt out this time, offered Advani his seat. But the party remained firm in allocating Advani the seat he has been representing all these years.

When asked about the matter, BJP president Rajnath Singh said at a press meet that it was upto Advani to take the final call. However, the 86-year-old veteran leader ultimately agreed to contest from Gandhinagar.

OneIndia News