Despite invite, Shiv Sena stays away

Meanwhile, Sena sources in Mumbai were far more forthcoming. 8220;We have sent them a clear message,8221; they said. In contrast, senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj sought to downplay the Sena8217;s attempt to settle scores. 8220;We will seek the support of the Shiv Sena,8221; was what she said.

The BJP high command seems disinclined to spilt hairs with the Sena. Former Lok Sabha Speaker and senior leader Manohar Joshi on Sunday urged BJP president Rajnath Singh to restrain state leaders Nitin Gadkari and Gopinath Munde from making any provocative remarks in the interest of the alliance. At the same time, Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray had publicly stated that the BJP was nothing without the Sena.

Unlike the presidential contest when the Sena had resolved to vote for the Maharashtrian Pratibha Patil, there is no such parochial issue involved in the vice-presidential contest.