Will decide on being BJP ally: Uddhav Thackeray

Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray said that it will be his party that decides whether or not it wants an alliance with the BJP. Speaking on the ensuing Mumbai civic polls, Mr Thackeray said both parties (Sena and BJP) were not in the mood to forge an alliance. If the parties manage to change their mindset towards each other, an alliance could be possible, he said.

Mr Thackeray was speaking after inaugurating a North Maharashtra party workers convention in Nashik on Sunday. Thousands of office bearers and party workers attended the programme held at Chopda lawns in Nashik city.

Indicating that the relationship between the two parties, which are sharing power in the state and at the Centre are not cordial, the Shiv Sena chief said, “The mindset in both the parties is that they want to go it alone. The alliance is still possible for the BMC elections only if both the parties change their mindset. The alliance cannot be a one-sided affair. But the decision to whether have the alliance or not will be taken by the Shiv Sena.”

Earlier Mr Thackeray arrived at Gateway Hotel, where he was welcomed by senior leaders.

He also said that the state is going through a bad phase and hinted that the BJP was responsible for it. “If the people had supported the Shiv Sena wholeheartedly during the last Assembly elections, the picture today would have been different. The state is presently seeing a very serious drought. The drinking water position is precarious,” he said.

He also asked why liquor factories were being supplied water despite their pending water bills. “Let’s not politicise the drought issue,” he said.

Answering a question, whether this convention was organised to send a message to the BJP, Mr Thackeray said, “Tigers don’t need to speak on such small things”.

Mr Thackeray said his party was not opposing BJP but was reflecting what was in the people’s hearts. Clarifying the party stand on entry to women in temples, he urged people not to give a political colour to religious issues.

On youth leaders, he said, “Bharat belongs to the youth. Hardik Patel, Kanhaiya Kumar and late Rohit Vemula are all youth. After Rohit went, Kanhaiya came in. Who is his mentor Who brought him to centrestage It was the mistake of the BJP,” he said.