About a year after the Shiv Sena passed a resolution to contest all elections independently, the party joined hands with the BJP again for the upcoming elections – Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Assembly polls.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut gave an interview to The Indian Express, a day after the deal was formalised by both parties.
Here are few excerpts from Raut's interview with TIE:
When asked if agreeing on the same amount of seats is a compromise for his party, Raut said that his party is still a 'big brother' in the state. He reasoned saying that the BJP is positive about giving the chief ministership to Shiv Sena.
When asked if the Shiv Sena will keep the CM chair for the full term, he said that it will be looked upon later. "I can tell you that there will be a Shiv Sena CM."
Raut said that the Shiv Sena’s announcement to go solo was according to public sentiment. However, since this is politics, everyone has to take tough decisions which are not taken from the heart but as part of political strategy, Raut said.
Raut said that Sena has given a second chance to the BJP.
Raut says that the BJP can never take over Shiv Sena's place in the state. He said that “taking them (BJP) in our folds” doesn't mean they can take over Sena's space.
Yes, the party will contest from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jammu among others, Raut told The Indian Express.
On if Shiv Sena is comfortable with PM Modi being the PM face again, Raut went on to criticise PM Modi's policies, saying that Sena has always spoken the truth.
He further said that there is Uddhav Thackeray in Maharashtra, there is Nitish Kumar in Bihar, who is being seen as the face of NDA in his state, and there is Prakash Singh Badal in Punjab.
Raut first clarified that he had not backed Gadkari for PM.
(With inputs from The Indian Express.)
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