The Shiv Sena and its ally the BJP are trying to use the vice-presidential election to see who blinks first and takes the initiative for making up. With polling for vice-presidency slated for August 10, the Sena wants the BJP to take a decision on their alliance by then so that the party can act accordingly. The BJP, putting up just a token fight, and therefore, under no pressure, is throwing hints that a decision may be taken only after the poll.“Our relationship with the Sena is under review and the exercise would take long to get over,” a BJP functionary said on Friday. He made it clear that no decision would be forthcoming before August 10. The BJP, in fact, wants the Sena to make a unilateral announcement of support for NDA nominee Najma Heptulla in the vice-presidential poll.Senior Sena leaders met BJP President Rajnath Singh last night as a part of efforts to iron things out. Sources said Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray and party General Secretary Sanjay Raut were also in touch with BJP leaders. For the record, BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar said Maharashtra party leaders had apprised central leaders about their views on the alliance at a parliamentary board meeting on Thursday evening. Uddhav Thackeray told The Indian Express from Mumbai that his party was in “no hurry to finalise its course of action.” “The BJP should clarify whether our alliance stands or not so that it gets easier for us to take our decision.” Uddhav, however, said: “We wish, the NDA becomes a strong alternative to the Congress-led alliance and returns to power. It is imperative that all NDA partners stay together to achieve this goal.” Regarding the vice-presidential election, Uddhav said, “We see no hitch in backing Najmaji, but the BJP should first clarify our status.”
