Sena frowns as Raj visits BJP office

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray visited the state BJP office on Monday, causing tension in the BJP’s already-shaky two-decade-old alliance with the Shiv Sena.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray visited the state BJP office on Monday, causing tension in the BJP’s already-shaky two-decade-old alliance with the Shiv Sena.

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While Raj and BJP insisted it was an unscheduled courtesy call, the Sena has asked the BJP for an explanation and threatened to boycott the National Democratic Alliance’s agitation in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The Sena has been sulking since the BJP announced a statewide agitation against the government without consulting it. Tension developed in the alliance after senior BJP leader, Eknath Khadse, blamed the Sena for his son, Nikhil’s defeat in the recent Legislative Council polls.

A section of the BJP, led by state general secretary, Vinod Tawde, has been telling the party to dump Sena and ally with MNS. Tawde said BJP had no hidden agenda and the meeting with Raj was an informal one.