Clarify stand on ‘Marathi PM’: Sena to BJP

Later,in a press conference in Mumbai,he said “BJP should clear it’s stand about Marathi manoos for the top job. Senior leaders in the state like Munde and Gadkari would not like if a Marathi grabs the post.”

Raut,however,agreed that as his party is a part of NDA,it would support Advani for the post. “But if someone thinks that a Marathi does not deserve the top job then they should dare to declare it publicly,” he said,adding “The issue of a Marathi prime minister should not be ridiculed in Maharashtra at least”.

Statements from the Sena supporting Pawar for the PM’s post had created a fissure in the saffron alliance which got diffused after the two parties reached a seat-sharing pact two days ago. But party sources fear that repeated statements from the Sena on the Marathi PM issue may deepen the rift.