Uddhav decides to attend Modi event BJP GOVT KEEPS THE PEACE

After kicking up quite a fuss, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray finally decided on Wednesday to attend the ceremony to lay the stone foundation of a handful of showpiece projects by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. But Thackeray confirmed only after ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) assured that he would be given ‘due respect’ at the function — which means sharing the stage with the PM.

Senior BJP ministers Chandrakant Patil and Vinod Tawde visited Matoshree, Thackeray’s residence in Bandra, on Wednesday, to personally deliver the state government’s invite to the Sena chief for the ceremony. According to WITH THE SENA Sena sources, Thackeray hosted the ministers for around half an hour and accepted the invitation.

Sena leaders had demanded the state government ensure Thackeray is given a seat next to Modi on stage. The Sena was irked the BJP wanted to claim credit for all new projects being launched in the city ahead of the civic polls.

A Sena leader, on the condition of anonymity, said, “Uddhavsaheb has accepted the invitation and will attend the event. There was no discussion on where he would be seated, but the BJP has invited him for the event. It is the majority party in the government and should WITH THE NCP take a call on how best to ensure respect to Uddhavsaheb.”

Meanwhile, in Pune, the BJP government is ensuring Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar shares the dais with Modi at a function to lay the foundation stone for Pune metro.