Following the ‘alliance’ of the BJP-Shive Sena for the coming Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra, Uddhav Thackerey said that ,BJP has changed ways of treating its allies and hence they agreed to contest together.
BJP Party President, Amit Shah and Shiv Sena Chief, Uddhav Thackerey, accompanied by Maharashtra CM, Devendra Fadnavis, in a joint press conference ‘announced’ their ‘pre-poll’ ‘alliance’ for the Lok Sabha.
In the coming Lok Sabha elections, BJP is going to contest in 25 seats out of 48 and Shiv Sena on 23.
BJP President Amit Shah: I am confident that in Lok Sabha elections, BJP and Shiv Sena will together win 45 out of total 48 seats in Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/CmjpstjCcg
— ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2019
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis: Shiv Sena will fight on 23 seats and BJP will fight on 25 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections pic.twitter.com/aZnl5melXn
— ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2019
Calling Thackeray as their guide, Fadnavis told media, “We have been allies for 25 years. There were some differences between us but we both are Hindutva parties. For some reasons, we could not come together in the past for the Assembly elections, but we are still together in the Lok Sabha and at the Centre.”
Reacting to the ‘alliance’, Former Maharashtra CM and Rajya Sabha MP, Narayan Rane termed it as ‘formality’ for their own benefit and not the people.
“I had said this in the past that Shiv Sena and BJP alliance will happen. But there was no excitement on the faces of BJP and Shiv Sena leaders. What has happened to the decision of Uddhav Thackeray to go solo? Both parties criticised each other at all level. This alliance is not for the people of Maharashtra, it’s for their own benefit. This alliance is just a formality and nothing else ” Rane told media.
However, in the joint press conference BJP Party President, Amit Shah said that ‘Shiv Sena’ and ‘Akali Dal’ are amongst those very ‘old allies’ of BJP who supported it over all situations.
Shiv Sena Chief, Uddhav Thackerey expressed that the BJP and Shiv Sena’s relation won’t crop up again despite of the differences they had in the past few years.
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray: Maharashtra CM has kept forward all the important things in this press conference. I don't think I need to add anything. Before going any further, I pay my tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives in Pulwama attack. pic.twitter.com/Ey5s0GuVeN
— ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2019
According to sources, Thackerey, at his residence while speaking to party workers said that BJP has changed its way of treating its allies and it is the reason that led to the decision of ‘alliance’ with the BJP.
Previously, Thackerey was seen targeting BJP and even ‘cited’ it as ‘Kumbakarn’ in the case of Ayodhya Ram Mandir as no measure is taken ro ensure its construction.