Sena to contest alone in Gujarat

Though Shiv Sena is a partner in Maharashtra government and an ally in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the centre, it has announced that it will contest independently for 50-75 seats in the Gujarat assembly elections that are scheduled for next month.

Shiv Sena party chief Uddhav Thackeray has extended support to Patidar leader Hardik Patel who met him a few months ago and is seen to be giving a tough fight to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Gujarat. Both parties, the BJP and the Sena have stated that there will be no effect of this decision on the politics in Maharashtra, but tension between the parties may increase due to the verbal attack between leaders, according to sources.

Shiv Sena MP Anil Desai has declared that the party has decided to contest Gujarat assembly elections independently. The Shiv Sena had contested around 40 seats in the 2012 Assembly elections

in Gujarat, but had failed to open its account in the state where the BJP is in power for over two decades.

The Shiv Sena will contest from Saurashtra and Kutch regions where there is some Marathi speaking population.

The BJP is reportedly not very happy with the close relations between Shiv Sena and Hardik Patel. BJP chief spokesperson Madhav Bhandari said, “We don’t know how the Shiv Sena wants relation with West Bengal CM Mamta Banerjee, who gave priority to Moharram over Durga Puja, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, who alleged saffron terrorism and Hardik Patel, who is related to the accused in Godhra riot case.”