Following the state BJP executive meeting in Jalna, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday, 28 January, hinted that an alliance between Shiv Sena and his party is still a possibility ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election.
Fadnavis said that those who believe and work for the Hindutva cause will come together.
“Despite the recent comments from various Shiv Sena leaders, BJP has not closed doors for alliance with Shiv Sena,” the Maharashtra chief minister was quoted as saying by ANI.
BJP Open To Alliance But Not ‘Helpless’
However, Fadnavis added that while the BJP was open to an alliance, it was not “helpless.”
Taking a dig at the Congress-NCP alliance, Fadnavis asserted that he did not want the country to be governed by “people who loot.”
“BJP is not helpless, yes we want alliance but for development of nation. Don’t want power to go in hands of people who looted nation for long. The BJP is the party which reached 200 seats from two seats.”Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra CM
Fadnavis claimed that the people will not be swayed by the lies of the Congress-NCP alliance, but will trust Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s work.
Maharashtra unit president of the BJP, Raosaheb Danve, inaugurated the day-long conclave on Monday and Fadnavis addressed the valedictory session.
Shiv Sena The ‘Big Brother’ in Alliance?
The Shiv Sena, on the other hand, said on Monday it would always be the "big brother" in an alliance with the BJP. The party added that no such proposal had been received.
Speaking to reporters in Mumbai after a meeting chaired by party chief Uddhav Thackeray, the Sena's Rajya Sabha MP and chief whip in Parliament Sanjay Raut was quoted as saying by PTI:
“Shiv Sena is the big brother (in the alliance with BJP and other parties) in Maharashtra and will continue to be so. There is no proposal from the BJP to form any alliance with the Shiv Sena. Those who wish to forge an alliance with us are talking about it. We are not waiting for any proposal to be offered to us.”
‘BJP Will Win More Seats Than Shiv Sena Without Alliance’
Earlier on Friday, 25 January, Danve had said that BJP will win more seats than the Shiv Sena in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections if there’s no pre-poll alliance.
Addressing a press conference in Jalna, he said that the absence of an alliance between the BJP and the Shiv Sena will benefit the Congress and the NCP.
“The BJP will win more seats than the Shiv Sena in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections if the Sena does not forge an alliance with the BJP,” he said.
Danve said the BJP has made preparations to contest all the 48 Lok Sabha seats in the state in case there was no alliance with the Uddhav Thackeray-led party.
Meanwhile, Thackeray is likely to conduct a meeting with party MPs to discuss the prospective alliance with the BJP.
All party members have reportedly given Thackeray a free hand to decide for or against the alliance.
According to sources quoted by India Today, the Shiv Sena has demanded an equal (24 each) seat sharing between it and the BJP.
BJP ‘Will Find a Way’: Fadnavis
Fadnavis had recently said that the party “will find a way” to keep its alliance with Shiv Sena.
Speaking at an event held to commemorate the legacy of Shiv Sena Founder Balasaheb Thackeray at the YB Chavan Centre in Mumbai on 15 January, The Indian Express quoted Fadnavis as saying: “It is due to the alliance in 1995 that we have come such a long way. Whenever there were issues in the alliance, Balasaheb used to take decisions with a big heart. Now, the responsibility of the alliance is on us and we will figure out a way.”
Praising the late Shiv Sena founder for being a great leader, Fadnavis had spoken about how Balasaheb never hesitated to speak his mind, a trait that appealed to people and made him a great orator, the report added.
“Balasaheb never just gave a speech. He used to communicate with people. He used to speak his mind. The people used to feel that he was speaking to them,” he had said.
(With inputs from ANI and PTI)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)