MUMBAI, JULY 13: The Shiv Sena-BJP coordination committee meeting scheduled to be held on Thursday is likely to be stormy as embattled Sena supremo Bal Thackeray is all set to take senior BJP leaders to task, particularly Dy CM Gopinath Munde for his uncalled for remarks on simultaneous polls and unilateral decision to launch the campaign for the Lok Sabha elections.``Certainly, we will deliberate on simultaneous polls, but we are unhappy over the manner in which the BJP is pressing for simultaneous polls,'' a senior Sena minister said.Sena cabinet members are unhappy for two reasons. One, the BJP has projected Munde as next CM of Maharashtra and two, the party was making all possible attempts to ensure that Assembly is dissolved to facilitate simultaneous polls.``We feel that we should not succumb to BJP pressure on simultaneous polls. BJP is pressing for simultaneous polls, with the feeling that now it was in a position to draw maximum political benefit from the Kargil issue,'' the minister added.While opposing the proposal for simultaneous polls, Thackeray had made it absolutely clear that it would be unwise to dissolve the Assembly in July, since the alliance government has been elected for a five full five year term upto March 2000, he remarked.Ever since the dissolution of Parliament, BJP has been consistently demanding simultaneous polls for obvious political reasons. In fact, after Munde made a public statement, which was also supported by Chief Minister Narayan Rane, Thackeray had strongly opposed the proposal.Subsequently, it was stated by both Thackeray as well as Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Pramod Mahajan that the final decision on simultaneous polls will be taken by the coordination committee.``We expected that neither the BJP nor the Shiv Sena will make a statement on simultaneous polls. But much to our surprise, while Thackeray has refused to comment, BJP leaders Munde and Anna Dange have publicly stated that they will go in for simultaneous polls,'' the minister added.Even on campaign strategy for the LS elections, it was decided that a comprehensive plan will be chalked out by the coordination committee. However, even before the committee could meet, Munde launched his campaign from Tuljapur without the knowledge of Shiv Sena functionaries. ``We came to know of the plan from advertisements in newspapers. We were also shocked at the contents of the advertisement, which projects Munde as the architect of modern Maharashtra,'' the minister said.By and large, Shiv Sena ministers feel that in the event the Assembly is dissolved to facilitate simultaneous polls, what is the guarantee that President's rule will not be imposed in the State. ``We want a specific assurance from the Prime Minister that President's rule will not be imposed if the Assembly is dissolved,'' the minister said.On the other hand, BJP ministers remarked that there was no substance in the allegations made against BJP as well as Munde. ``The controversial advertisement was released by the party and as such it will be wrong to blame the Dy CM for it,'' said a senior BJP minister.Referring to the issue of simultaneous polls, the minister said the proposal was cleared by Prime Minister A B Vajapyee in consultation with Pramod Mahajan and Munde. ``Since it will benefit us, we thought we should go in for simultaenous polls. If the Shiv Sena is not keen on it, we are prepared to reconsider it as we do not want that the alliance should collapse,'' the minister added.He said, initially, even Rane was in favour of simultaneous polls. However, he made a virtual volte face following directives of his political mentor.
