Sena lashes out at BJP over Munde's comments

Shiv Sena lashed out at Gopinath Munde for his statement that the Sena would not survive for more than 25 years.

In an indication of the souring ties between the two parties, Shiv Sena on Monday lashed out at BJP leader Gopinath Munde for his statement that the Sena would not survive for more than 25 years, saying if it were not for them, the BJP would not have had a place in state politics.

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"If the Shiv Sena had not given the BJP a place, their strength in Maharashtra would not have been beyond a couple of seats in the assembly," Sena mouthpiece 'Saamna' said in a hard hitting editorial.

"It is unfortunate that Pramod Mahajan who understood that the BJP's reach in the state was mainly due to the Shiv Sena's strong grassroot level organization, is no more," it said.

"Of course, both parties have benfitted from the alliance, but how can Munde whose party is barely 25 years, predict the future of any one else?

"If it were not for the Shiv Sena, politicians like Munde would have been reduced to doing the jobs of pracharaks," the article said.

In a satirical tone, the mouthpiece said, "If Munde has become so good at predicting the future, other astrologers should close down their businesses."

Last week, Munde, in an article in BJP magazine 'Manogat' expressed the opinions, that all parties including the Shiv Sena and NCP would not survive for more than 25 years and ultimately only the BJP and Congress would remain.