Shiv Sena warns of ‘Mahabharata’ if BJP ignores its allies
18 April 2013 1:28 AM GMT
After Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar expressing reservations on Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi becoming the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)’s prime ministerial candidate, another important NDA component – the Shiv Sena – cautioned on Wednesday that the choice of leader should be such that it doesn’t disintegrate the alliance.
The BJP’s oldest ally, the Shiv Sena, while comparing the allies as horses of Arjun’s chariot, said if the constituents of NDA are not taken on board on the issue of prime ministerial candidate then it could lead to a ‘Mahabharat’. The editorial of Sena mouthpiece Saamna on Wednesday said, ‘Declaring someone’s candidature may result in gain of 5-10 seats but some old allies will leave, costing 5-25 seats.’ This is being seen as clear hint of reservations over the name of Modi.
Shiv Sena also echoed the demands made by the Janata Dal (United) that the prime ministerial candidate of the alliance should be declared well in advance and said a meeting of NDA should be convened to end speculations. ‘There is a lot of confusion. There are several wannabes, there are squabbles within the NDA on the PM candidate issue. Everyone is beating his own trumpet and piercing people’s eardrums, this is not a good picture. Rajnath Singh, LK Advani and Sushma Swaraj should comment on this and the confusion should be cleared by convening a meeting of the NDA at the earliest,’ said Sena in its editorial.
Sena also made it amply clear that the BJP should not take the final decision without consulting its allies. ‘The BJP has the right to name its Prime Ministerial candidate but it cannot do so on its own steam,’ said Sena mouthpiece. The BJP, however, did not seem much amused with JD(U) and Shiv Sena trying to dictate terms to the senior partner of the alliance on who should be the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate.
‘Candidate hamara aur pasand aapki aisa nahin ho sakta hain (Candidate is ours but choice is yours. That is not possible),’ said BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain, while referring to reservations expressed by alliance partners.
The BJP’s oldest ally, the Shiv Sena, while comparing the allies as horses of Arjun’s chariot, said if the constituents of NDA are not taken on board on the issue of prime ministerial candidate then it could lead to a ‘Mahabharat’. The editorial of Sena mouthpiece Saamna on Wednesday said, ‘Declaring someone’s candidature may result in gain of 5-10 seats but some old allies will leave, costing 5-25 seats.’ This is being seen as clear hint of reservations over the name of Modi.
Shiv Sena also echoed the demands made by the Janata Dal (United) that the prime ministerial candidate of the alliance should be declared well in advance and said a meeting of NDA should be convened to end speculations. ‘There is a lot of confusion. There are several wannabes, there are squabbles within the NDA on the PM candidate issue. Everyone is beating his own trumpet and piercing people’s eardrums, this is not a good picture. Rajnath Singh, LK Advani and Sushma Swaraj should comment on this and the confusion should be cleared by convening a meeting of the NDA at the earliest,’ said Sena in its editorial.
Sena also made it amply clear that the BJP should not take the final decision without consulting its allies. ‘The BJP has the right to name its Prime Ministerial candidate but it cannot do so on its own steam,’ said Sena mouthpiece. The BJP, however, did not seem much amused with JD(U) and Shiv Sena trying to dictate terms to the senior partner of the alliance on who should be the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate.
‘Candidate hamara aur pasand aapki aisa nahin ho sakta hain (Candidate is ours but choice is yours. That is not possible),’ said BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain, while referring to reservations expressed by alliance partners.
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