Hours before Shah-Thackeray meeting, Sena pokes fun at BJP chief
Shiv Sena has shown its displeasure with ally BJP several times, but today, it chose a crucial moment. Hours before BJP-Chief Amit Shah was to meet Sena head Uddhav Thackeray, an article in the party mouthpiece 'Saamna' questioned why BJP Chief Amit Shah had gone on an outreach program right after embarrassing defeats in bypolls across different states. And this was only one attack.
'BJP's Sampark program not for the masses'
PM Narendra Modi is on an international tour while Shah is on a domestic one under the BJP's new 'Sampark for Samarthan' outreach program, but it has "lost sampark [contact] with the people of the country, and it should introspect why it has happened," the article said. To back its claims, it reminded how the BJP won just 1/4 Lok Sabha and 1/10 assembly seats.
'BJP decides to keep in contact based on business'
"The 2019 polls can be one reason behind the Sampark Abhiyan," the editorial quipped, adding "a change of power is certain" in Maharashtra, Rajasthan and MP. BJP decides through "commercial arithmetic who and when to keep contact with," it said. Like in Palghar, they pasted late BJP MP Chintaman Wanga's photos during bypolls, but afterwards, Modi and Shah were back on posters, it said.
'Amit Shah's stubbornness needs to be saluted'
Asserting Sena would fight the 2019 polls alone, the editorial mocked Amit Shah. "Amit Shah intends to win 350 seats in the Lok Sabha on the BJP's own strength. He says Ram Mandir will be built then. His stubbornness needs to be saluted," it said.
BJP on outreach program for support from eminent personalities
Shah is to meet Thackeray as part of the BJP's new outreach program, which involves meetings with eminent personalities across different fields to persuade them to campaign for the BJP. So far, he has met with former army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag, Kapil Dev, Baba Ramdev, and former CJI RC Lohati. In Mumbai, he's set to meet Madhuri Dixit, Ratan Tata and Lata Mangeshkar.
Tense relations with Sena hit further in recent times
In such crucial times, relations between the Sena and BJP have dipped noticeably. The former has often attacked the latter over various issues, including fuel price rise and protesting farmers. But ties were hit further when Sena "hijacked" Shriniwas Vanga, son of the late BJP MP Chintaman Vanga, and fielded him in the Palghar bypolls. BJP, which fielded former Congressman Rajendra Gavit, won.
Does BJP need to worry?
Continuing with its outreach program, Shah is set to meet SAD Chief Parkash Singh Badal in Chandigarh tomorrow. The Sena's jibe on BJP losing support of its allies might just be true: recently, Nitish Kumar and KC Tyagi, leaders of ally JD(U), questioned the BJP. While the former expressed doubt about benefits of demonetization, the latter said BJP doesn't care about its allies.
