Mumbai: It seems that the Shiv Sena, which had in 2014 parted ways with the BJP in Maharashtra Assembly polls in 2014, wants an alliance with the latter ahead of the upcoming civic polls.
The party has now softened its stand against the BJP after censuring it over a host of issues. In an editorial published in party mouthpiece 'Saamana', Sena said that “criticism over policies should not be taken personally and that those who want to improve, take comments with an open heart and bring about necessary changes”.
"Criticism done on policies should not be taken personally. Doing so increases stress. Governments keep committing mistakes. But, in a democracy, it is necessary these mistakes are pointed out," it reads.
"Criticism is not only done to change or remove governments, but to improve its functioning. Those who want to improve take criticism sportingly and with an open heart. A good ruler needs to place his feet on the ground, keep his mind calm and respect criticism," it adds.
It should be noted that the Shiv Sena had contested 2014 assembly polls in the state alone and later joined the government as a junior partner.
The civic elections, to be held early next year, are crucial for Uddhav Thackeray’s party as the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai is its lifeblood. If all goes well, the two parties will seal a ‘respectable’ alliance for local elections.
However on Sunday, addressing Shiv Sena workers at the party's golden jubilee year celebration, Uddhav Thackeray had said he would not have any "twisted" alliance with the ruling partner BJP for BMC polls, and asked the cadres to be ready to contest the polls without alliance.
Notably, a senior BJP minister had yesterday said despite Uddhav Thackeray's assertion that he would not accept a "twisted" alliance deal with BJP for the next year's civic polls in Mumbai, he was keen to sew up an alliance.
Congress, NCP attack BJP-Sena alliance
Meanwhile, reacting to the Sena's change in stand, the opposition Congress and NCP said these comments were expected.
"We had expected the Sena to soften its stand against the BJP. The Sena knows the corruption that it has allowed in the BMC running into thousands of crores, will ensure that it does not retain power. Thus, they now want to use the BJP to fulfil its agenda," Congress spokesperson Al-Nasser Zakaria alleged.
NCP legislator Kiran Pawaskar alleged, "BJP has a policy of teaching a lesson to anybody who revolts against it. It feared Eknath Khadse, so his PA was found involved in corruption and subsequently the minister had to resign."
"Now, the Sena is a thorn in BJP's throat. We wonder if the BJP wanted to play a similar tactic with Deepak Sawant, through his PS Sunil Mali and this made the Sena go soft against the BJP," he further claimed.
With PTI Inputs
