BMC Elections: BJP-Shiv Sena rift a farce: Congress

Congress on Tuesday dubbed “farce” the Shiv Sena’s posturing on its continuation in the BJP-led government, a day after party president Uddhav Thackeray sought to put the ball on pulling the plug in the BJP’s court.

The Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said both the saffron allies will eventually “make peace” once the results of 10 municipal corporations, including BMC, and 25 Zilla Parishads are out.

The ZP and civic polls will be held on February 16 and 21. Counting of votes will be done on February 23.In an interview to a news channel, Thackeray said the alliance will last till the BJP stretches it to the point of breaking, which is in the stark contrast to frequent threats issued by Sena leadership on pulling out of the government.

Sena, the partner of BJP in state and Central governments, had last month announced to contest the



civic polls solo without any alliance with BJP or any other party.“On one hand, Sena ministers are saying that they carry their resignation letters in pockets while on the other hand, Uddhav has put the ball in the BJP’s court saying Sena will pull out of the government only if the BJP stretches it to the point of breaking. This means Sena has not taken any decision to withdraw from the government,” Vikhe said in a statement.

He said the Sena ministers carrying their resignation letters in their pockets is all “farce”.  On January 27, a day after Thackeray publicly announced his party’s decision to contest solo, senior minister Ramdas Kadam had said the Sena ministers were carrying their resignation letters in their pockets.

“People can now see through Sena’s double standards and they will teach that party a lesson in the civic polls,” the Congress leader said.