Does Thane indicate the Senas are reuniting?
This is some of the questions that are being asked in political circles after MNS chief Raj Thackeray announced on Tuesday that he would extend support to the Sena-BJP alliance in Thane. Expecting in return that the alliance would support his party in the Nashik mayoral election.
Is the development in Thane—where the Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena have come together to keep the NCP-Congress combine away from power—an indication of things to come? Will this bonhomie be extended to 2014 assembly elections?
These are the questions that are being asked in political circles after MNS chief Raj Thackeray announced on Tuesday that he would extend support to the Sena-BJP alliance in Thane. Expecting in return that the alliance would support his party in the Nashik mayoral election.
However, it is too early to say whether this partnership will extend to the 2014 elections.
Both warring cousins know they are fighting for the same support base; hence there are little chances of peaceful co-existence.
Little wonder, within hours after winning the mayoral elections in Thane, the Sena top brass started distancing itself from the decision to go with the MNS. “None of the senior Sena leaders went to the MNS. It had been left to the local leaders in Thane to decide,” said senior Sena leader Manohar Joshi.
Uddhav too told the media that the MNS should approach the Sena if it wants their support in Nashik. “Let them request us if they need help,” he said.