BJP backs Ambedkar-Owaisi alliance, says Sena mouthpiece

Mumbai: After the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), another champion of Marathi votes, the Shiv Sena, too, has alleged that the newly-minted alliance between Prakash Ambedkar and Asaduddin Owaisi is sponsored by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to divide the opposition’s votes.

The Sena made this allegation in its mouthpiece Saamana on Monday. It said that both leaders were neglecting the larger interests of the communities for their petty politics.

The editorial further said that the alliance was proof of how “money” had taken over political wisdom.

The editorial in Saamana read, “Prakash Ambedkar and Asaduddin Owaisi have declared that they will contest the 2019 elections in an alliance. This has ended the confusion of the people. Till now, both were playing politics to help the BJP. But that was behind the curtain. Now, both will help the BJP openly.”

The editorial comes after Mr Ambedkar declared that his party would form an alliance with Mr Owaisi for the coming general and Assembly elections. The Sena has termed the alliance as “opportunist”.  The editorial said, “Both used the language of secular politics. But none of them has any relation with Dr Babasaheb’s thoughts.”