Now, Shiv Sena says Congress better than BJP

Mumbai: The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena seems to be preparing ground for a possible alliance with Congress in the forthcoming BMC mayoral election. Sena mouthpiece Saamana on Monday lambasted BJP, citing examples of the latter sharing power with PDP in J&K. The editorial said Congress was better than BJP, making a strong case for a possible alliance with the party.

The edit derided BJP for its comments on Sena’s recent bonhomie with Congress. “The chief minister said his party will not go with Congress. But we want to ask him about the large induction of Congress leaders in his party. You may pretend not to go with Congress but through this induction, BJP itself has become the new Congress,” said the edit. Cornering BJP on its Hindutva premise, it questioned, “You (BJP) are allying with PDP in Kashmir. PDP praises Afzal Guru who was hung by the Congress government. How does it suit you to share power with somebody who praises Afzal?”

The buzz in political circles is that Sena is trying to seal a deal, direct or indirect, with Congress, for mayoral elections. Whether Congress abstains or offers its candidates, it will ultimately help Sena to pocket the city head’s post.

Interestingly, Sena was born out of the late sixties’ United Maharashtra Movement which was also against the then Congress government. Initially it was called a party for the Maharashtrian cause but later in the eighties, it changed tack to the Hindutva narrative. Throughout, Congress remained Sena’s main target and so, it would be tough for hardcore Sena supporters to digest an alliance between Sena and Congress. Sena’s citing examples of BJP alliances is being perceived as a last-ditch effort by the party to convince its voter base. Meanwhile, BJP has decided not to give importance to the Saamana editorial with no one from the party reacting.