BJP reaches out, mollifies allies
DISCONTENT? In Maharashtra, Uddhav Thackeray adopts a tough stance; in Bihar, allies put up a united front at a dinner hosted by NDA
bogus voting was rampant, besides the malfunctioning of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMS). He also said that Sena would continue to oppose the BJP’S bullet train project, and the Mumbai Vadodara expressway, among other projects.
Senior Sena leaders said the party leadership is cautious and the party will continue its aggressive stance for now despite Shah offering to make amends. During the meeting between Thackeray and Shah, the former is said to have taken up issues such as the lack of communication within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and no role in decisionmaking for Shiv Sena within the Maharashtra government.
Shah is learnt to have offered a favourable agreement for state polls, a 50:50 seat sharing formula, if Sena goes with the BJP for the Lok Sabha polls. He also promised another two to three meetings with senior leaders of both parties to sort out grievances and discuss alliance.
“In 2014, we have seen things change between the Lok Sabha election and the assembly poll. The BJP has backstabbed us in the past; we will now wait and watch,’’ said a senior Sena leader who did not wish to be named.
“All main sticking points were discussed in the meeting, including each other’s grievances. Both Lok Sabha and assembly polls were also discussed. The Sena chief did agree that Hindutva agenda must not lose due to this bickering in the upcoming elections,’’ said a senior BJP leader.