An embittered Shiv Sena looks set to play upon the sentiment of Marathi asmita (pride) in the Assembly election, a reference to the non-Marathi leadership of its estranged saffron ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party, led by Amit Shah.
While observers feel that the BJP should be wary of this tactic, the party’s Maharashtra election in-charge, Om Mathur, dismisses it as a non-issue. He says the party had been prepared all the while for the split, but denied it was premeditated.
“The BJP is also Marathi. We are committed to Marathi, to Shivaji as well as good governance. Our election slogan, Chhatrapati Shivaji Cha Ashirvad, Chalo Chale Modi Ke Saath (Let us seek blessings of Chhatrapati Shivaji and walk along with Modi), shows that we are not away from the Marathi,” Mr. Mathur told The Hindu in an interview on Friday.
Though Mr. Mathur, a close aide of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, says the BJP observed “alliance dharma” and was compelled by the Sena’s adamant attitude to go ahead without the other allies, he admits the party’s intent was “to expand” in the State.
No comments:
Post a Comment