BJP leaders to meet Uddhav to clear the air on alliance
A day after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) core committee discussed alternatives to its uneasy coalition with the Shiv Sena, party leaders said a last attempt would be made to reach out to their partner.
The party has decided to depute two senior ministers — finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar and revenue minister Chandrakant Patil — to extend an olive branch towards Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray.
They are likely to call on Thackeray at his residence, Matoshree in Bandra on the occasion of the Maharashtrian new year, Gudi Padwa on Tuesday.
HT had reported on Friday that the BJP core committee, upset with Sena’s continued opposition to the government, discussed the possibility of going for-mid term polls as well as inducting 29 legislators from other parties allegedly in touch with the BJP.
“We will call on Thackeray to seek better co-ordination in the ongoing budget session. As far as loan waiver for farmers is concerned, CM has already taken a delegation to meet the PM. So we are not wrong to expect co-operation from our ally,” said Mungantiwar.
Political observers said BJP, by indicating mid-term polls, is asking Sena to toe the line as part of the government.
HT had reported that the party core committee was mulling over getting 21 legislators elected in bypolls on its symbols. Senior leaders told HT that on the whole 29 sitting MLAS were in touch with party top brass for shifting their alle giance.
The other option BJP leaders claimed would be to opt for mid term polls in July after taking a few big bang decisions including the loan waiver.
Reacting to claims that 15 Congress and 14 NCP legislators are in touch with BJP and could contest bypolls on the lotus symbol, senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar said in such a scenario all Opposition parties would put up one common candidate in such elections.