Notwithstanding efforts by BJP top brass to pacify its 25 year old ally Shiv Sena, the party in its political mouthpiece 'Saamana' has once again taken a swipe against the BJP, saying that the party appears to be doing deals with new parties while keeping existing allies in the dark. The editorial argues that there is no guarantee that fresh trouble will not break out in the future.
"Leaders like Modi, Rajnath and Rudy may have applied balm on the strain in BJP- Shiv Sena ties, but what is the guarantee that there will be no strain in the future. If Pramod Mahajan were alive, the strain would be have been less. BJP is a national party thanks to the many regional allies it has. Even tall leaders like Vajpayee and Advani had to take along a number of allies - almost 30 to form the NDA government. BJP appears to be doing deals with new parties while keeping existing allies in the dark," it says.
Today’s hard hitting editorial comes close the heels of Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray expressing displeasure after senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari met MNS chief Raj Thackeray without informing Shiv Sena. Uddhav was fuming over Gadkari’s attempt to lure Raj putting the alliance between Shiv Sena and BJP at stake in the run up to the Lok Sabha elections.
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The editorial cites examples of how the party has spoken to Om Prakash Chautala without speaking to Kuldeep Bishnoi and how Purandeshwari Devi was inducted without speaking to TDP. The editorial also warns that ties may be strained in the future even though Modi, Rajnath and Rudy have mended the dispute for the time being.