We’re not helpless, just gave another chance: Shiv Sena on alliance with BJP

After questions were raised over the Shiv Sena’s decision to revive its alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Sena clarified why the alliance was done.

After questions were raised over the Shiv Sena’s decision to revive its alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Sena clarified why the alliance was done. The Sena said it is not “helpless” and there was no “adjustment” and that it gave “another chance” to the alliance after differences were sorted between the two parties.

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, BJP president Amit Shah and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the alliance on Monday. (HT Photo)

On Monday, the BJP and Sena announced its alliance for the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. The Sena in an editorial in the party mouthpiece Saamana said it looked at the “numbers” and the “new arrangement” like any other political party.

“In a parliamentary democracy, numbers have got more importance. Therefore, like others who look at the numbers, we too have to do it”, the editorial said. However, it added that it has not “turned the way the wind was blowing” and that the “wind” is now in favour of the Sena.

The Sena said it never left the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) like Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United), the other NDA constituent. “Even a trusted ally like Nitish Kumar has quit the NDA twice. Nitish, who had attacked on the issues of Ram temple and Godhra, was not acceptable to Modi... if Nitish can come back into the NDA, then why not Sena?,” the editorial said. After almost five years of constant criticism, the Sena came at the receiving end after its U-turn to ally with the BJP.