BJP in talks with MNS, Sena infuriated

After getting defeated by its old ally’ Shiv Sena, the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) is now planning to establish a new political equation in Maharashtra, however, now it is tuning up to ‘Sena 2.0’ i.e. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). This is mainly due to the reason that the heat between Shiv Sena and BJP is not likely to cool anytime soon.

 

Sena has seen itself in a wavering relationship with its “big brother” BJP where it sides with the central ruling party at times and discredits its stand on others. Initially, both the parties seemed to be getting closer and it appeared that both might even reconcile, especially after various Shiv Sena leader’s statements post-Uddhav Thackeray’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, shortly after that, the BJP brought in Shiv Sena and Uddhav Thackeray’s powerful opponent Narayan Rane as a Minister at the Centre, which eventually infuriated Uddhav.

 

Recently, Uddhav Thackeray met hardline Hindutva leader Sambhaji Bhide during his Sangli tour. Bhide is recognized to be in the good books of PM Narendra Modi and other senior BJP and RSS leaders. Post this meeting, talks of closeness with BJP were doing the rounds yet again but now reportedly the BJP is in talks with Raj Thackeray’s party. BJP state president Chandrakant Patil has hinted that dialogues will take place. Forming ties with Raj Thackeray’s party means the BJP is closing the doors on its old partner Shiv Sena.

 

All these political activities are happening in connection with the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections. BMC is one of the key elements for Shiv Sena and it is well aware of the fact that if BJP and MNS fight this election together it will be tough for Sena, which may ultimately suffer loss in both Hindu and Marathi votes. But it is believed that the BJP has played a political stroke of agitating the Shiv Sena, by simply holding talks with MNS and putting Thackeray under the pressure of reconsidering their attitude towards the ‘elder brother’ BJP.