Amid speculation of a pre-poll alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party for next year’s Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, the Shiv Sena has held meetings with its local leadership in 42 of the 48 Lok Sabha constituencies in the State.
Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has sent out a clear message to the party cadre that in 2019, the fight will be against an ‘old-time friend’. Over the past month, Mr. Thackeray chaired meetings with party’s office-bearers in the 42 constituencies and took stock of preparations.
‘Expose govt.’s flaws’
A source closely associated with the developments said, “District presidents, constituency in-charge, tehsil presidents and important leaders in each constituency took part in the meetings. Uddhavji has made it clear that though the Sena is in power, the local leadership is tasked with exposing flaws in the government’s policies, if any.” The source said that Mr. Thackeray has clarified to the cadre that the poll battle will be against the BJP. He said, “The Sena has fought against a range of opponents, from the Communists to the Congress. This time, it will take on a long-time friend. Uddhav ji has warned the cadre this would be the toughest battle of them all.”
A Sena leader from western Maharashtra said, “The party’s local leadership has been given clear directions. There are no behind-the-curtain talks going on with the BJP about an electoral understanding. The aim is to prepare the party to contest all 48 seats.”
Mr. Thackeray will take stock of the preparations in six Mumbai seats in the next two weeks. The leader said, “These meetings are not to fix candidates, but meetings aimed at re-energising cadre at ground level.” This year, the Sena had announced that it would fight all future elections on its own.
