Sainiks feel vindicated by TDP's stand

Mumbai: The Shiv Sena is upbeat after Telugu Desam Party (TDP)’s Chandrababu Naidu, the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, threatened to leave the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) fold.

The Sena leadership feels that its decision to contest future elections on its own was timed just right. It also feels that Mr Naidu’s public statement against the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) ‘big brother’ attitude has underlined the Sena stand on the national level.

The TDP leader and Andhra CM stated in Amaravati on Saturday that if the BJP is not ready to follow the ‘mitra dharma’ (friend’s duty) then his party will leave the alliance. Mr Naidu’s party and government are currently facing mounting criticism by the state BJP leaders.

Speaking to the media, Mr Naidu said, “If they don’t want us, then we will do namaskaram and chart our own course.” He also said that he has restrained his party’s leaders from taking the BJP head on., despite the pressure.

Earlier last week, the Shiv Sena had declared its decision to contest all elections on its own in the future.

“If the government is failing to give justice to common people then what is the logic of being with them? We will go to the people independently and seek their support,” Mr Thackeray had said in his speech on Tuesday last.

Mr Naidu’s subsequent statement on Saturday has supported the Sena chief’s emotions, feel party leaders. ”The Shiv Sena has taken decision without considering politicalrepercussions. Chandrababu was Modi’s favorite. But he too followed the Sena’s route. This shows that there is deep disturbance in the National Democratic Alliance. And I won’t be surprised if this gets bigger with every passing day and the NDA explodes before 2019,” said Sena MP Sanjay Raut.

“There will be pressure on the BJP leadership soon. Their dictatorial working style will be challenged within NDA very soon,” said a senior Shiv Sena leader.