Sena uses vote as leverage on Nanar refinery

The Shiv Sena has decided to keep the BJP on tenterhooks on which way its 18 MPs will vote on the no-trust motion against the Modi government. The party will end the suspense and reveal its voting preference in the morning, a few hours before the debate starts.

This was indicated by Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena spokesperson and party's Member of the Rajya Sabha. Uddhav Thackeray will take a final call in the morning on Friday, Raut said.

However, there was some confusion about the Sena stand in the afternoon with Shiv Sena Lok Sabha MP and Chief Whip of the Sena Parliamentary party, Chandrakant Khaire, asking all party MPs to remain present on July 19 and July 20 in the Lok Sabha and support the government stand.

But Raut was equally emphatic later in the day, "Ignore the whip issued by Khaire. Thackeray will announce the party stand."

The buzz was that BJP president Amit Shah had rung up Uddhav Thackeray to seek his support, but Raut said insists that there was no such call. Political observers say the Sena is using the vote to

leverage its stand on the Nanar refinery, which it wants should be scrapped.

Taking pot-shots at the vacillating stance of the Sena, MNS president Raj Thackeray remarked that it could have shown its serious intent by voting in favour of the motion rather than just sniping at the BJP led government.