‘Friction is increasing’: Shiv Sena, BJP leaders spar over Lok Sabha seat

Responding to his post, Kadam reiterated that the Shiv Sena will contest the seat and will not sacrifice the seats. He said BJP will have to compromise on some seats when it is in alliance with the Shiv Sena. “Earlier you (BJP) staked claim to the Raigad seat and now you are staking claim to the Ratnagiri seat. This cannot be tolerated. We are in an alliance and are going to contest together. So you will also have to compromise on some seats. Or is it that the BJP wishes to eliminate all the parties and stand alone?” Kadam asked. He added that both parties should give an equal share to each other.

The tiff over the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg Lok Sabha constituency had been brewing since the past couple of months. State industries minister and Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant’s brother Kiran Samant has also been vying to contest the LS polls from the constituency. Uday Samant has on several occasions staked claim to the seat, citing that in the last general elections in 2019, the undivided Shiv Sena had contested the seat and won.

The rift however has given opposition MVA ammunition to target the ruling parties. Senior Congress leader and MLA Balasaheb Thorat took a dig at the Shiv Sena and the BJP over Kadam’s statement and claimed that the rift in the Grand Alliance will increase in the future.
“The conflict between the three parties in the Grand Alliance is now visible. The friction is increasing. This is just a trailer. As the election comes closer, we will see real cinema,” said Thorat.

Responding to Kadam’s criticism, BJP state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule said the former’s statement was a personal opinion and did not represent the alliance’s opinion. “Only Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will take a decision on which seats belongs to which party. The statement made by Ramdas Kadam is not the opinion of the grand alliance. His opinion is personal,” said Bawanukale.

He added that there was a lot of respect for the allies in the Mahayuti. “I often say that BJP treats the constituent parties in the alliance well. We have a lot of respect for constituent parties. The Congress party eliminated it’s allies. However, we have given enormous strength and honor to the constituent parties,” Bawanukule said.