While the alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena appears to have been finalised, statements made by leaders of both parties — including Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remark on the Ram temple on Thursday — have ignited speculation that all is not well in the partnership.
The fact that Mr. Modi made no direct mention of the Sena in his rally in Nashik, but made a comment about a badbola (loudmouth) leader from Maharashtra who wouldn’t stop talking about the Ram temple, raised eyebrows.
The only leader from Maharashtra who has recently been talking about the Ram temple and even visited Ayodhya is Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray.
Both parties have also locked horns over the Metro car shed in Aarey colony. While Yuva Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray has opposed the proposed removal of trees for the car shed, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has termed the youth leader ‘misinformed.’
Moreover, Mr. Fadnavis recently also indicated that the government could reconsider the decision to scrap the oil refinery project at Nanar in Konkan, which was key to forging the BJP-Sena alliance before the Lok Sabha election.
Sena leader and State Transport Minister Divakar Raote had on Wednesday demanded that the BJP and Sena contest an equal number of seats in the Assembly polls, failing which the alliance was unlikely. Sena’s Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut supported the statement.
In response, BJP leader Girish Mahajan said, “The alliance is bound to happen. Those who have no say in the seat-sharing talks must not comment on the issue.” Mr. Mahajan expressed confidence that issues in the seat-sharing arrangement will be resolved within two to three days.
BJP president Amit Shah will be in Mumbai on Sunday to address a public rally on the abrogation of Article 370. According to sources, during his visit, the BJP is likely to take a final call on the alliance with Sena.
