Mumbai: After Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) alliance partner Shiv Sena announced its plan to go solo in the Assembly and general elections in 2019, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday claimed that his government is stable and will complete its five-year term. Mr Fadnavis reacted to Shiv Sena’s decision from Davos, Switzerland where is attending the World Economic Forum with PM Narendra Modi.
Meanwhile, Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar said that the Sena would lose if it goes ahead with its plan to contest the next elections alone. The BJP views Sena’s decision as a move to capture the opposition’s space in state politics.
However, Shiv Sena’s announcement has not come as a surprise to the BJP. Mr Fadnavis said, “Let’s wait for the next elections to come but they have been saying many things. However, I am sure that Shiv Sena and BJP will together complete the government’s full term.” He also refused to comment on Mr Thackeray’s criticism of his government.
Mr Shelar lashed out at the Shiv Sena. “We were of the opinion of forming an alliance with Shiv Sena, but if they don't want it then what can we do? The BJP is ready for Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in 2019. People are with us, and we are sure that Sena will lose,” said Mr Shelar.
There is a strong opinion in the BJP that by attacking the government at Centre and in the state, the Sena is attempting to capture opposition’s space. “The Sena knows that seat-sharing formula for Assembly elections will be a major hurdle. So both the parties have to go alone. In that case, the Sena can’t survive without occupying opposition’s space. So, it is expected that Sena’s tone against the government will be sharper in future. The announcement on Tuesday is just the start of a more aggressive stance which will be adopted by them,” said a senior BJP minister.
The Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have slammed the Sena. “If Sena really wants to contest on its own then it should withdraw its support to BJP right now. People are ware of Sena’s hypocrite nature,” said opposition leader Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil. NCP’s Ajit Pawar called it a “drama.” “As Sena has realised, like Girish Bapat of BJP, that this government won't return to power, it is trying to distance itself from BJP. But people won’t forget that Sena is a partner in anti-people government,” he said.
