Angry Fadnavis calls Shiv Sena back-stabber

CM claims Srinivas Vanga will come back to BJP after May 31

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday called its ally Shiv Sena a backstabber over giving candidature to Srinivas Vanga and then claimed Srinivas would return to Bharatiya Janata Party after May 31, once the by-poll for Palghar Lok Sabha is over. Fadnavis has taken the Palghar poll very seriously and personally after Sena took the family of late BJP MP Chintaman Vanga over to their side and gave a ticket for the by-poll. Fadnavis claimed Sena had no sympathy for Vanga’s family and appealed tp people to vote for BJP to fulfil the late Vanga’s dreams about tribal welfare.

Fadnavis during his public rally said that the BJP was considering a name from the Vanga family for LS by-poll. "I had dialogue with Uddhav Thackeray, Sena president, on May 1 about party candidature. However, on May 3, Sena brought Vanga family into Sena and announced name of Srinivas as party candidate. Sena did wrong with BJP and it back-stabbed us," said Fadnavis.

In Palghar, though, it’s a fight between four candidates, including BJP, Shiv Sena, Congress and Bahujan Vikas Aghadi. According to a BJP insider, the main poll fight is between BJP and Sena.

"At present, Congress has no presence in Palghar LS constituency. However, in past ten years, it had secured around 1.5 lakh votes. Rajendra Gavit, BJP candidate has his own network and number of followers through his social work. Several tribal community has been associated with his Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) which will help him for election," the source said.

The source claimed that after giving ticket to Gavit, Fadnavis warned Hitendra Thakur not to push Baliram Jadhav, candidate of BVA, too much. Thakur wants government protection for his illegal construction and there may some understanding between Thakur and Fadnavis and, hence, BVA is not seen campaigning aggressively for their candidate," said the source.

Meanwhile, Fadnavis reminded Sena that BJP had supporter Amit Ghoda in by-poll when Krishna Ghoda, Sena legislator died in 2016. "Sena has breached friendship with BJP," blamed CM. He said, BJP will allow Srinivas to come back to BJP as the party feels Vanga is family member of BJP."

BJP insider claimed BJP may offer ticket to daughter of late Vanga in 2019 LS poll as a strategy of damage control. It will help BJP to get sympathy of Vanga followers in next poll.

The election is scheduled on May 28 for Palghar and Bhandara-Gondia LS by-poll.