On uddhav’s ‘Pahredar’ comment: Waiting to give appropriate reply: Fadnavis

The chief minister, however, further said he will extend his new year greeting to the Shiv Sena despite growing differences between the two allies. Ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the fissures are getting sharper but the parties have kept the option of a pre-poll alliance open ended.

The Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray had criticised the Modi government at a rally in Pandharpur, stating, “Pahredar (watchman) has become chor”, echoing Congress president Rahul Gandhi who used the term “Chowkidar chor hai” (the watchman is the thief).

Though the CM did not elaborate on the Sena-BJP alliance, he made it clear that the BJP will contest against the Congress-NCP alliance during 2019 Lok Sabha and Assembly polls. Talking about the alliance between BJP and NCP during the Ahmednagar municipal corporation elections, he said, “The BJP was willing to give unconditional support to the Shiv Sena for staking claim for mayor and deputy mayor posts in Ahmednagar municipal corporation election,” adding that the Sena did not respond to the offer. However, he further said, the NCP voluntarily came forward to lend their support despite the BJP not taking the initiative.