Miffed with BJP, Vinayak Mete meets Uddhav Thackeray

Mumbai: A miffed Vinayak Mete, the leader of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ally Shiv Sangram, on Sunday met Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray at Matoshree. Sources in the Sena said that Mr Mete was upset with the BJP for not giving him much importance during the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the Chhatrapati Shivaji memorial in Mumbai last month, and he wanted to discuss a few things with Mr Thackeray regarding this. Mr Mete, whose visit has raised eyebrows in political circles, had openly expressed his displeasure against the BJP and threatened to boycott the Prime Minister’s programme. However, he remained present for the programme after the BJP reached out to him.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Mr Mete said that he discussed about alliance for the coming local body polls with the Sena chief. “We are of the opinion that Sena and BJP should contest polls together and also take us all alliance partners along. But if it does not happen, we will have to contest polls whenever possible,” Mr Mete said. He was elected as MLC on a BJP ticket and also made chief of a committee formed for constructing the Chhtrapati Shivaji memorial.

Mr Mete added that he had demanded seats in 26 zilla parishads and 10 municipal corporations, which will be going to polls next month. “We have asked that we be given seats where we are strong. If it is not possible, we will have think of some option,” he added.

Mr Mete also expressed that he should be given due respect by the BJP leadership. Sena sources said Mr Mete is unhappy with the BJP leadership and feels he is being ignored. He discussed forging an alliance with Shiv Sena in local body polls if the Sena-BJP alliance does not work out, the sources added.