Shiv Sena-BJP saffron alliance in shaky ground

Describing Sena as a “treacherous friend”,Khadse said it was unfortunate that it did not adhere to the alliance ‘dharma’. He alleged that Jalgaon Sena legislator Suresh Jain helped the Independent candidate,Manish Jain,defeat his son.

Despite Sena-BJP alliance for the Jalgaon local self-government constituency seat,Sena votes did not got to BJP candidate,he said.

Nikhil Khadse polled 228 votes,while Manish Jain secured 243 votes and official NCP candidate Anil Choudhary polled 81 votes. BJP nominee Gurumukh Jagwani,a close associate of Khadse,had won last time,polling 246 votes.

Khadse also snubbed Sena chief Bal Thackeray over the latter’s remarks against him for visiting 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab in Arthur Road jail last week.

“I was not invited by Kasab. There were reports that he was being pampered in jail and also other issues that were discussed in the Assembly. Home Minister R R Patil asked me to accompany him and check for myself and that was why I visited the jail,” said Khadse,responding to Thackeray’s criticism that it was ‘shameless’ to have met Kasab.