BJP to send alliance proposal to Shiv Sena

Mumbai: Despite the Shiv Sena’s decision to go it alone in the upcoming Lok Sabha and assembly elections, the BJP still wants an alliance with the party, said sources. Finance minister and senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar told The Asian Age, “We will send them a proposal of alliance and sort out the seat-sharing issue.”

Mr Mungantiwar ruled out the possibility of early Lok Sabha and assembly polls. About the elections and the alliance issue, he said, “Sena has many times taken such decisions and we have resolved the issues. Though seat sharing was the problem last time in the assembly elections, we will solve it this time. We were not aware about our strength. We now have a base for seat sharing. So, we will do the alliance in the Lok Sabha and assembly elections.”

The Sena is our natural friend and we will never go with the NCP. Chief Minister  Devendra Fadnavis, too, wants an alliance with the Sena, clarified Mr Mungantiwar.

He further said that they always consult Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray ahead of important decisions. “We met him at the time of the GST, farmers’ loan waiver and a few more times,” Mr Mungantiwar said.

Although BJP always tried to undermine the Sena, after the Gujarat results, the party realised that it cannot win elections in Maharashtra without an alliance with the Sena.

With Congress becoming stronger and NCP inclined to go with it, BJP has no other option but to woo the Sena leadership. Hence, the Sena’s decision to go solo in the elections notwithstanding, CM Fadnavis and other senior BJP leaders are trying for an alliance. However, party sources said that Sena would remain firm about its decision.