Fadnavis talks to Uddhav; Sena continues rant against BJP

Shiv Sena kept up its attack on ally BJP saying transparency should be followed on the BMC polls issue, even as Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today spoke to Uddhav Thackeray seeking continuation of alliance talks for the elections in a positive note.

A senior BJP leader requesting anonymity said, "The Chief Minister is firm to go into the (Brihanmumbai civic body) polls along with Shiv Sena. All we want is a specific number of seats and transparent governance."

The leader further said talks with Sena will resume tomorrow after initial parleys were held yesterday.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leader Anil Parab, who is part of the negotiations with BJP, told reporters that his party is not sure of its ally's "genuineness" to go into the polls in an alliance.
 

"It had been decided that Shiv Sena will get the Mayor's post in Nagpur municipal corporation in the last one year of the term. But that promise was not fulfilled. Then, how can they (the BJP) talk of transparency?" he asked.

"We do not know how genuine BJP is when they say they want to form an alliance with us. We do not have any parameters that will gauge their authenticity," Parab said.

"It is not that transparency is only required in the BMC. Transparency is expected at the Centre, in state government and all municipal corporations as well," he said.

Taking a dig at BJP MP Kirit Somaiya, who has been critical of some infrastructure works undertaken by Shiv Sena-controlled Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Parab said his party does not take him seriously.

"We will take him seriously only when the BJP formally says that his statements are the party's stand," he said.

A BJP leader, part of the seat negotiation talks, had yesterday said his party is ready to forge an alliance with Sena if it is allotted 105 seats for the BMC polls.

The first meeting for negotiating the seat sharing formula between Sena and BJP was held yesterday.

After this, the BJP leader had revealed that they would not stretch the negotiations too far and will adjust with Sena as its central leadership has given it a nod to go ahead with the alliance if given 105 seats.