Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday made it clear his party will not lend unsolicited support to BJP in forming the government in Maharashtra, saying “let them make the first move“.
“I am sitting at my home peacefully, if somebody thinks our support is needed, they can approach us. Somebody from that side (BJP) should come to us with a proposal. How can I go about offering my support?” he told reporters as the poll threw up a hung Assembly and BJP was set to form its government with surprise backing from NCP.
“What if I approach them and they say no and tell me we already have NCP’s support,” he asked.
Mr. Uddhav said if BJP was okay with NCP’s support, “let them go with NCP”.
About BJP patriarch L.K. Advani’s comments favouring a reunion with Shiv Sena, Uddhav said,” This is what I had expected. When Balasaheb (Sena founder Bal Thackeray), Atal Behari Vajpayee, Advani, Pramod Mahajan and Gopinath Munde were around, ours was not just a political alliance, but a close relationship.”
“We have secured 60 seats which is not a bad performance,” he said, adding “nobody can corner me.”
“We defeated those who caused anguish to late Bal Thackeray,” Mr. Uddhav said, in an apparent reference to the defeat of former Sena leaders Narayan Rane and Ganesh Naik.
He also raised the issue of creation of a Vidarbha state, a cause supported by BJP and staunchly opposed by Shiv Sena, saying, “We are ready to extend support if we get an assurance that Maharashtra will remain united.”
