Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said the Shiv Sena was never an enemy. When questioned by the reporters whether there is a possibility of the two former allies coming together, Mr Fadnavis said than an appropriate decision will be taken in view of the situation.
Former CM Fadnavis when asked by the reporters about his meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the possibility of a approchement with Sena, he told, “we (Sena and the BJP) were never enemies.” They were our friends and people whom they fought against, they formed a government together with them and they left us, he added.
“There are no ifs and buts in politics. Decisions are taken as per prevailing situations,” Fadnavis noted.
Fadnavis’s acknowledgement of friendship comes amid actions taken by central agencies against leaders of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Both the NCP and Shiv Sena say that central agencies are being misused against opposition parties to destabilise the three-party alliance in Maharashtra. The reports of tension among the ruling alliance were also fed by aggressive remarks from the ally Congress leaders. Later, the Congress clarified they are with the Thackeray-led alliance for the next five years.
However, there were reports that the allies are trying to work through it.
NCP Chief Sharad Pawar met CM Uddhav Thackeray, earlier this week. On the same day several other leaders like cabinet minister Jeetendra Awhad, Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil including Aditya Thackeray also met him.
Mr Thackeray had a one-on-one meeting with PM Narendra Modi last month. The Shiv Sena had described it as a personal meeting, saying it values personal relations irrespective of political relationships.
Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Saturday, in an attempt to dispel speculation, tweeted, “The more such rumours spread, the stronger the MVA alliance will become.”
MP Raut was reacting to reports that he met BJP leader Ashish Shelar. He said they may have political and ideological differences, but when they come face-to-face at public functions, they would cordially greet each other. He has even had coffee with Ashish Shelar openly, he noted.
