Constituents of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance in Maharashtra — the Shiv Sena, the Swabhimani Paksha and the Rasthriya Samaj Paksha — on Monday discussed the issues and strategy during the Budget Session of Parliament, which begins on Tuesday.
Leaders of these parties met at the residence of Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut here for nearly three hours, sources said.
Besides Mr Raut, the Swabhimani Paksha leader and MP Raju Shetti, Rashtriya Samaj Paksha leader Mahadev Jankar and Shetkari Sanghata leader Sadabhau Khot took part in the deliberations. However, RPI(A) leader Ramdas Athawale was not present.
The BJP’s allies in Maharashtra have been uncomfortable with the state and the Union government on a number of issues, especially on farmers’ plight.
While the Shiv Sena has been refusing to toe the BJP line on key issues like India’s relations with Pakistan, it had voted against the BJP-backed candidates in the last two presidential elections.
Mr Shetti has decided to raise the farmers’ issue in the Lok Sabha. The allies feel that the BJP governments have been insensitive to the issues of the working class and backward castes.
Interestingly, the Shiromani Akal Dal told the BJP chief at a meeting held here recently why Sikhs have not been appointed to important positions.
LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan has been unhappy with the handling of the JNU row and suicide by dalit scholar Rohith Vemula in Central University of Hyderabad.
If insiders are to be believed, the non-BJP leaders in the NDA want that the BJP floor managers should have to keep the Congress leaders in good humour on the one hand and take the NDA allies into confidence on the issues of national importance if they want Parliament to run smoothly.
