BJP-MNS tie-up unlikely for Assembly polls: Munde

The BJP is unlikely to join hands with the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena for the upcoming state assembly polls. Putting to rest all speculations about a possible alliance, BJP leader Gopinath Munde on Wednesday said that the party would not look beyond the existing Mahayuti or the Shiv Sena-BJP-RPI combine. 

Relations between the Shiv Sena and the BJP had soured in March after BJP leader Nitin Gadkari paid a visit to Mr. Thackeray. 

“We will not join hands with Mr.Thackeray or any other party for the assembly election. Contesting it, like any other election, is challenging. But we will do it on our existing Mahayuti. We are also hopeful that our victory to the centre would help at the assembly election as well,” said Mr Munde.

The BJP leader said that the party is expecting to win over 35 seats in the state at the Lok Sabha polls. “When Atal Bihari Vajpayee came to power, we had won 32 seats. Now we are sure to break the record and win more than 35 seats,” said Mr. Munde. 

On the probability of the Nationalist Congress Party joining the NDA in forming the government in New Delhi, Mr. Munde said it was unlikely. “We will get a majority. We will not need the support of NCP. I don’t think it is even possible for the NCP to join the alliance,” he said. 

The party members had a meeting in their office in Mumbai on Wednesday to take stock of the electoral situations. The atmosphere was jubilant in the party. “As soon as the results are out on Friday, we will start chalking the steps to the assembly election. The Mahayuti has four new parties now. We need to take them into consideration for seat sharing,” said Mr. Munde.