BJP blames partner Shiv Sena for loss

After suffering a crushing defeat in the Kalyan-Dombivli civic polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday blamed alliance partner Shiv Sena for the loss. "We lost because of the alliance. The Sena rebels damaged our candidates in several wards," said local BJP legislator Ravindra Pawar.

After suffering a crushing defeat in the Kalyan-Dombivli civic polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday blamed alliance partner Shiv Sena for the loss. "We lost because of the alliance. The Sena rebels damaged our candidates in several wards," said local BJP legislator Ravindra Pawar.

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Pawar alleged that the Sena activists did not work for BJP candidates in the wards where BJP was contesting. The BJP’s tally has come down from 16 in 2005 to 9 even as the Sena has won two seats more than in 2005.

On Monday, Sena leaders had lamented that the BJP’s poor performance denied the saffron combine a clear majority. However, on Tuesday Sena’s Thane district chief Eknath Shinde chose not to hurt the alliance partner.

"We contested the elections together so whatever has happened is responsibility of both parties," said Shinde, adding that he would talk to BJP leaders and clear all misunderstanding.

Meanwhile, the Congress and NCP, who fought civic elections in Kolhapur separately, have started talking of an alliance. NCP state unit president Madhukar Pichad sent a letter to Congress state chief Manikrao Thakre stating, "The results show that none of us can win power on our own. Instead of encouraging horse-trading, we should come together for providing better civic governance in Kolhapur."