In a significant development that threatened to wreck the ongoing seat-sharing negotiations between the saffron alliance partners, the Shiv Sena on Thursday night made it unambiguously clear to the BJP that there was no question of it accepting the terms set by the latter, that its writ ran in the State and that it would not compromise on Maharashtra’s “pride” or its “self-respect”.
After rejecting a 12-hour-long ultimatum handed to their party by the BJP to decide on its demand vis-a-vis the sharing of seats for the October 15 Maharashtra Assembly polls, senior Shiv Sena leaders unanimously authorised party president Uddhav Thackeray to decide on the future of course of action in the event of the failure of talks with the party’s long-term saffron ally.
“Maharashtra’s pride (Swambimaan) and Shiv Sena’s self respect (Atma sanmaan) are extremely important for us. No one can bring Maharashtra to its knees. Nor can anyone force the Sena to bow down. In Maharashtra, it is the Shiv Sena’s writ that runs. We would like to continue the alliance with the BJP. But if a decision to the contrary is to be taken, then we have given full powers to Sena president Uddhavji Thackeray to do so,” a combative Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut said in the night.
Talking to mediapersons after emerging out of a meeting of senior Sena leaders that Uddhav had convened at his Bandra residence, “Matoshri” following the “ultimatum” given to his party by the BJP in the morning to decide on its specific demand on the sharing of seats by the evening, Raut said: “We are solidly behind Uddhav on whatever he decides in all matters relating to the sharing of seats with the BJP)...let me tell you, we are extremely confident of unfurling the Sena’s saffron flag (atop Mantralaya).”
Hours after senior BJP leaders, including the party’s national president Amit Shah, mounted pressure on the Sena to decide quickly on its seat-sharing demand for the Assembly polls, Raut repeatedly said that he would not like about the BJP or its demand. “I would not like to talk about the BJP or its demand. All I can tell you is that Uddhavji held a meeting of senior party leaders today. We have given full powers to Uddhavji to decide on all issues relating to the Sena-BJP alliance.”
Queried if the Sena had gone on the defensive after it was served an ultimatum by the BJP, Raut said: “It is not the question of our going a step forward or going backward. The issue before us is the pride of Maharashtra. The Shiv Sena is here to protect the pride of Maharashtra. There will not be any compromise on the issue”.
Interacting with the media separately, senior Sena leader and former leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly Ramdas Kadam echoed the views expressed by Raut and said: “There is no question of the Sena accepting the ultimatum given to it by the BJP. Uddhavji will take an appropriate decision at an appropriate time. We are all fully behind him.”
Speaking at a party workers’ meeting at Kolhapur in western Maharashtra, BJP’s national president had also made it clear that while the party leadership was all for an earlier decision on the sharing of seats with the Shiv Sena for the Assembly polls, the cadres would not like the party leadership to enter into an electoral tie-up that meant the party compromising its “honour and self-respect”.
“I was telling both Devendraji (State BJP president Devndra Fadnavis) and Vinodrao Tawde (leader of the Opposition in the State legislative Council) to finalise the seat-sharing talks with the Sena at the earliest. They told me that they were putting in all their efforts, but there was no response from the other side. I would like to appeal to both the parties: Since the BJP has taken two steps forward, the Sena should also take initiative forward and finalise the electoral tie-up,” Shah said.