Deshmukh thanks Thackeray

As BJP counted its losses ahead of the presidential poll, the party8217;s oldest ally, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray...

As BJP counted its losses ahead of the presidential poll, the party8217;s oldest ally, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, had a high-profile guest from the rival camp for breakfast at Matoshri on Wednesday. Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh came calling to thank him for his support to UPA-Left candidate Pratibha Patil.

8220;The Chief Minister told Balasaheb that he has been asked by the Congress high command to thank him on its behalf,8221; Sena general secretary and party mouthpiece Saamana8217;s executive editor Sanjay Raut said.

Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray, Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader R R Patil, former chief minister Manohar Joshi, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Ramdas Kadam and Raut were present during the hour-long meeting.

8220;You have a big heart,8221; Deshmukh is learnt to have told Thackeray. The Sena chief8217;s response: 8220;I have a big heart indeed, but people fail to understand this.8221;

Thackeray, according to Raut, was candid enough to tell Deshmukh that his support was limited to Patil8217;s candidature for presidency. 8220;Our opposition to Sonia Gandhi and Congress remains undiluted,8221; he stressed.

Joshi and Anant Geete usually represent Sena at NDA meetings. Joshi was involved in all NDA strategy sessions till Thackeray declared his support for Patil on June 25. Asked if Sena would attend NDA meetings after the presidential poll, Raut said, 8220;Yes, of course.8221;

Raut said, 8220;We consider ourselves a part of the NDA and we continue to be a constituent of the alliance.8221; This implies that the Sena is likely to go along the BJP in case the NDA decides to contest for vice-presidency.

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Raut8217;s words should be reassuring for the BJP, rattled by bad news from Kolkata, Bangalore and Mumbai. However, people on either side cannot ignore the fact that Sena and Congress have come together over a major political issue after over two decades. Long before he became a serious contender for power, Thackeray was content expanding his influence with clandestine support from the Congress.

Then Congress CM V P Naik was happy seeing Thackeray systematically edge out Communists from Mumbai8217;s trade union politics. Gradually, when Hindutva politics got on the ascendancy, the Sena supremo drifted towards the BJP to forge a firm alliance. Now, when the BJP has fallen to bad times, the best it can wish is that Thackeray8217;s guests do not visit him too often.