Raj Thackeray-Ashish Shelar meet sparks rumours

It seems that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is once again showing an interest in the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), and while nothing might materialise from this, the development is bound to keep the Shiv Sena on its toes. Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar met MNS chief Raj Thackeray at the latter’s residence in Dadar on Thursday. While Mr Shelar claims that this was a courtesy Diwali visit, suspicions have been raised in some quarters since it has been 10 days since the festival ended. The MNS is tight-lipped and has said that it’s left it to the media to decipher for itself what it wants to about the visit.

Mr Shelar has been firing salvos against the Shiv Sena and has been leading the anti-Sena front on social media and even in BJP programmes. Hence, his meeting with Mr Thackeray at his residence has raised several questions. A senior BJP leader claimed that though not much was brought to the table, a message has been sent to the Sena that there are options still available for the BJP.

When contacted, Mr Shelar said, “I wasn’t here during Diwali and didn’t visit Raj Thackeray then. This visit was related only to Diwali. There’s nothing much to read in it.”

The MNS, though, has left it vague. Senior party leader Bala Nandgaonkar said, “The Sena and BJP have decided on their alliance for the local body polls. This was a personal visit. The media can decipher what it wants to.”

Meanwhile, Mr Shelar, who will be leading the party in Mumbai during the BMC polls, has been outspoken about differences between the Sena and BJP. Mr Shelar had recently criticised Sena scion Aaditya Thackeray, too, over the death of a penguin at Byculla Zoo.

Many leaders in the BJP want the party to contest the BMC polls alone, without opting for a tie-up with the Sena. Also, there are many in the BJP who, during MNS’ good days, wanted to enter an alliance with the MNS instead of with the Sena.