Sena, BJP set up committee to end differences

The Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have decided to come together on a common table to iron out the various differences crop up at various levels between the two 25-year-old alliance partners to strengthen the partnership.

The Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have decided to come together on a common table to iron out the various differences crop up at various levels between the two 25-year-old alliance partners to strengthen the partnership.

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The partners have formed a co-ordination committee, which plans to meet regularly to iron out differences at various levels to resolve internal conflicts.

“There are various issues at various levels and they can best be sorted out at a talking table. This is the reason that we have decided to set up a co-ordination committee of five to six senior party members from each side and meet once a month. This will be an informal set up,” Shiv Sena MP and spokesperson Bharat Kumar Raut said.

Sources said that this would ensure that the smallest tussle and problems that get the highest attention before they assume large proportions and go out in public domain, damaging the alliance relations.

“In a first such meeting, Maharashtra BJP president Sudhir Mungantiwar and Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray met on Tuesday and discussed various issues, including Aurangabad,” he added.

There are various other issues like Vidarbha, where both the party views are diagonally opposite. While the BJP is in favour of smaller states and favours the creation of Vidarbha by splitting Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena is for a united Maharashtra.

The BJP has also been at the receiving end from the Shiv Sena over the BJP government’s stand over the Maharashtra Karnataka border row and alleged “torture” of Marathi people.