Party sticks to resolution passed last year to contest Lok Sabha and Assembly polls independently

The Shiv Sena has turned down its alliance partner Bharatiya Janata Party’s overtures and decided to contest on its own the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections next year. Sena leader and Industries Minister Subhash Desai conveyed the party’s decision a day after the BJP extended its hands for a pre-poll alliance.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil reached out to the Shiv Sena at the 38th foundation day rally of the BJP at Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) on Friday. Mr. Desai said, “They have again attempted to woo us. But we are doing fine. We are confident of contesting polls on our own.”

Last year, the Shiv Sena had passed a resolution to contest the polls independently. On Friday, BJP leaders spoke about late Sena supremo Bal Thackeray and defended its ally from the criticism of the Opposition.

Mr. Patil termed the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) ‘termites’ after the party compared the Sena to ‘worms’. However, the Sena leadership did not seem pleased with the gesture. Mr. Desai said, “We are happy that the BJP has remembered Bala Saheb on their big occasion. No event in Mumbai can be held without recalling the great leadership of saheb.”

‘BJP on shaky ground’

Lately, the BJP has been losing its alliance partners on a national level, with the latest rift being with the Telugu Desham Party. The Opposition has said the BJP is desperately looking for support after losing its partners. Congress leader Ashok Chavan said, “These are signs that the party [BJP] is on shaky ground. The party has hit the panic button and is making desperate appeals to reach out to its partners.”