Mumbai: When Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray announced last year that his party would contest all future elections independently, he was greeted by his party workers with great zeal and enthusiasm. However, within a year, he has taken a U-turn by deciding to join hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) again in the upcoming Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha polls.

According to party sources, the Sena will find it very hard to justify its decision to ally with the BJP as it has been continuously slamming the BJP-led government at the Centre and in the state on various issues.

Mr Thackeray himself admitted that his decision to ally with the saffron party is likely to  invite criticism. “I know I will be criticised for this, but I will be able to explain it to my party workers.”

According to party sources, the leadership was aware of the heartburn the alliance decision would cause party activists. Hence, it had already kept ready the face-saving formula to pacify party workers.

Not all in the Sena, especially ground-level activists, were happy with the party's decision to join hands with the BJP.

“We have always opposed the alliance with the BJP, which has showed its true colours in the last five years. The BJP has left no stone unturned in humiliating our party on every possible occasion. Despite this, the Sena MLAs and MPs, who are not sure of winning seats, have forced the party to ally with the BJP. The party leadership has ignored the voice of the common workers,” said a Sena activist in a dejected tone.