As Shiv Sena and Rajnath Singhspar,BJP talks tough

Upset over Sena’s remarks on Narendra Modi’s efforts to rescue Gujaratis stranded in Uttarakhand,Singh told Uddhav that the BJP would not take criticism against the Gujarat CM lying down.

Meanwhile,state BJP president Devendra Fadnavis,in a retort to MNS president Raj Thackeray,told him not to take the party for granted. “The BJP is not going to wait indefinitely for parties to join the alliance. We are capable of contesting the polls on our own and have started preparations.”

In Maharashtra,BJP has set a goal of 100 seats. Similarly,for Lok Sabha poll,the party has identified 26 seats of 48,where it will focus its attention.

The BJP reckons that it will have to realign its strategy with local groups instead of banking on Sena and MNS alone.

This renewed aggression is an outcome of pressure within BJP’s rank-and-file to distance itself from the Thackeray brothers,who are being seen as indirectly serving the interests of Congress as well as NCP.

Leader of Opposition in the state council Vinod Tawde said,“Modi is our revered leader. If Sena criticises him instead of the Congress,it is bound to upset our workers.”

Fadnavis’ initiative to form Maharashtra Democratic Alliance to thwart the Congress and NCP is being misunderstood by Sena and MNS,a party source said. “There’s no grudge over Raj’s stand on the alliance but his veiled threat to expose private discussions with BJP leaders was unfair.”

A BJP general secretary said,“There’s talk among party workers that BJP is giving undue importance to the Thackerays. The party should invest in consolidation instead. If we succeed,regional forces will automatically join us.”

A BJP leader from Mumbai spoke to Sena’s Manohar Joshi about the matter. “Why is our discussion on the alliance being misinterpreted? MNS feels BJP is trying to paint them as pro-Congress but Sena thinks we are alienating Uddhav. Sena and MNS may have issues,but why is BJP being made the culprit?” he said.