BJP going ahead with projects, including Nanar refinery, despite Sena’s objection

Mumbai: The BJP is going ahead with several projects that the Shiv Sena is objecting to, the latest being the Nanar Green Refinery Project at Rajapur, which is a priority of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Both the Sena and Swabhimani Party leader Narayan Rane, who is with the BJP, have been aggressively opposing the Nanar project. So much so that Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday met the CM in this regard. And while the CM assured Mr Thackeray that the government would not go ahead with the project if residents were opposing it, he hasn’t granted any stay on land acquisition for the same.

Earlier too, the BJP has gone ahead with projects despite opposition from the Sena. For example, the Sena opposed the Jaitapur Atomic Energy Project and even met PM Modi regarding the same but work is already underway. Similarly, the Sena opposed the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train but work on the project will start in June nevertheless.

The Sena was opposed to the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Corridor as well, but later changed its stance and extended support to the project. In a similar vein, the BJP will go ahead with the Nanar project, said party sources.

Incidentally, a majority of the residents have been opposing the Nanar project. If the project is initiated despite the opposition, BJP may suffer political losses in the Konkan region where it’s position is weak vis-a-vis the Sena.

With Mr Rane challenging the Sena to bring pressure on the CM to get the Nanar project cancelled, the project has become a prestige issue for the Sena. However, the CM may go ahead with it anyway, said BJP sources.