Saffron allies continue to fight over forging alliance with MNS

The trouble between the Shiv Sena and BJP over getting the Sena’s bete noire, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) as a third partner is yet not over.

The trouble between the Shiv Sena and BJP over getting the Sena’s bete noire, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) as a third partner is yet not over.

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A day after BJP president Nitin Gadkari said the issue of forging ties with the MNS will be discussed by the party’s core committee, Sena and BJP leaders were engaged in criticising each other. It began with Sena spokesperson, Neelam Gorhe, asking the BJP whether its leaders (Gadkari) do not understand the ‘Thackeray language’.

She said there was no question of making statements about the MNS after Sena chief Bal Thackeray had ruled out such a possibility.

Reacting sharply to her statements, BJP spokesman, Madhav Bhandari on Friday said: “Gorhe has no right to criticise Gadkari. She did not bother to get information on what Gadkari said on the issue before she launched an attack on him.”

He alleged that Gorhe was crazy for publicity and the language she used against Gadkari was highly objectionable.

“The language suits only Balasaheb. Somebody like Gorhe who was in several political parties before joining Sena cannot be expected to understand the culture in an alliance,” he said.