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BJP should clarify its stand on MNS: Uddhav

He taunted its alliance partner asking whether it will be okay for it to take anybody's support like AAP did with Congress

Press Trust of India Mumbai
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray today put BJP on notice asking it to clarify its ties with its rival MNS led by his estranged cousin Raj Thackeray.

He taunted its alliance partner asking whether it will be okay for it to take anybody's support like AAP did with Congress in Delhi.

"BJP should clarify who is authorised in Maharashtra BJP to take decisions?" Uddhav told reporters after a meeting of his party office bearers and Lok Sabha candidates.

Uddhav was later scheduled to meet Rajiv Pratap Rudy, deputed by BJP President Rajnath Singh in the wake of Shiv Sena's anger over Nitin Gadkari talking to Raj on Lok Sabha elections.
 
Posing questions to the BJP, Uddhav, without naming his estranged cousin, hit out saying that some people do anything to be in power.

He said Sena has good equations with Gopinath Munde and his team. "However, suddenly some people jumped into the middle to take credit," he added.

"If need arises, will you (BJP) take anybody's support. Like that done by Kejriwal. Like former Prime Minister Chandrashekar took support of Rajiv Gandhi. Will they take support of Congress also if needed?" Uddhav asked.

If such is the thing, then what is the difference between us and Kejriwal? he further asked.

"We (Shiv Sena-BJP) have come together on the issue of hindutva. We were with them even when they were in crisis. However now the situation has started improving (for them)," he pointed out.

Uddhav also said that he would talk to BJP chief Rajnath Singh on the issue, which has strained the relationship between the two-decade-old alliance partners.

MNS recently declared that it would challenge the Sena in all seats in Lok Sabha polls, but will support Narendra Modi's candidacy as Prime Minister.

Earlier, seeking to placate the Shiv Sena which is miffed over the recent thaw between BJP and MNS, Maharashtra BJP president Devendra Fadnavis met Uddhav.

"I conveyed to Uddhavji that BJP considers Sena its natural and trusted ally," Fadnavis said after the meeting.

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First Published: Mar 11 2014 | 7:43 PM IST

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