Mumbai: Claiming that the results of the Gujarat Assembly polls denoted a change in the country’s political atmosphere, the Shiv Sena has said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had not expected the verdict.
The Sena, which had contested 53 seats in Gujarat, said that its ally used money and muscle power for the polls. This was an alarm bell for the BJP for 2019 Lok Sabha polls, said Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Monday. The leader also hinted that the BJP would not survive in the future without an alliance. “The BJP has been in power for 22 years. Fourteen of its chief ministers were campaigning for the elections. The BJP used money and muscle power for the polls,” alleged Mr Raut. Shiv Sena went it alone in the Gujarat polls but failed to bag a single seat. The party had tried to seek support from Patidar leader Hardik Patel. However, he supported Congress in the fight against the BJP.
The Sena MP congratulated both BJP and Congress but said, “The political atmosphere of the country has changed. The results are a lesson for all. The BJP did not get what it had desired.” The leader was referring to the BJP’s claim that it would bag 150 seats out of 182.
The alliance between the Sena and BJP has been rocky. The parties might not contest the Lok Sabha poll in alliance, as Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has spoken about snapping ties with the BJP on several occasions. However, despite their many differences, the allies haven’t parted ways. “This an alarm bell for the BJP ahead of 2019. If the BJP is going to snap ties with alliance partners, it is dangerous for the party,” he said.
