Sena workers refuse to support BJP MP over ‘mafia’ remarks

MUMBAI : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena may be considering an electoral alliance for the coming Lok Sabha polls, but Kirit Somaiya, BJP’S MP from Mumbai north-east constituency, may find it hard to get support from Sena members.

A group of Shiv Sena workers staged demonstrations outside party chief Uddhav Thackeray’s residence on Saturday saying they will not campaign for Somaiya if he is given a ticket. They were infuriated that Somaiya had been critical of the Sena and described the party as a “mafia”. This resentment can pose a problem for Somaiya as the Sena has two legislators of the total six assembly seats in the constituency, and holds considerable sway among the Maharashtrian voter population.

In a meeting convened by Thackeray, of Sena’s north-east office-bearers, it was made clear that Somaiya’s candidature was unacceptable to them. “How can we ask votes for Somaiya when he calls our chief a mafia [leader] and does not spare opportunities to attack us?” said a Sena leader. Ahead of the 2017 Mumbai civic polls, when BJP and Shiv Sena contested separately, Somaiya targeted Thackeray, accusing him of running a mafia raj. He had alleged that Sena leaders laundered money through a web of shell companies and challenged the Sena chief to make all

his financial transactions public.

SENA TARGETS MODI

The Shiv Sena on Saturday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he needs to answer whether the controversial Rafale deal was meant to strengthen the Indian Air Force or benefit some one else. The Sena through its mouthpiece Saamana’s editorial said Modi should take criticism since it was he who bypassed the defence minister and defence secretary, and dealt with the purchase of the defence equipment. “How can raising concerns about national security be viewed as attack on nation?” taunted the article.