Notwithstanding the reports of bad vibes between him and Nitin Gadkari, over the latter’s recent overtures to MNS chief Raj Thackeray, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray made it clear on Wednesday that his party would not do anything to sabotage the former BJP president’s lok Sabha poll prospects in Nagpur nor would it field an Independent candidate against the latter.
“There is absolutely no basis to the reports that the Shiv Sena is fielding an Independent candidate against Gadkari in Nagpur. We are not a party that believes in betrayal. Thus the question of our stabbing Gadkari in the back does not arise,” Uddhav said, while addressing a news conference at his Bandra residence “Matoshri” here.
Uddhav was responding to a news report, indicating that the Sena was readying a plan to sabotage the election of Gadkari’s election from Nagpur constituency, where the BJP leader is contesting the lok Sabha polls for the first time.
The query was in the context of the strain developed in relations between Uddhav and Gadkari over the latter’s luncheon meeting with the MNS chief in Mumbai on March 3.
Gadkari, it may be recalled, had reportedly requested the MNS chief not to put up candidates against the BJP-led “Maha-Yuti” (grand alliance), to avoid division of the Opposition votes in the lok Sabha polls. Having not taken kindly to Gadkari’s overtures with Raj, Uddhav had virtually accused the former BJP president working at cross purposes with the Opposition’s five-party grand alliance in Maharashtra ahead of the lok Sabha polls.
Elaborating further on Gadkari-related query, Uddhav said: “Whatever the stand we had taken about Gadkari, we have already expressed it. Whenever somebody does anything wrong, we do not mince our words when it comes to expressing our reservations about the issue. But, once we express our stand on the issue, we will not even think in terms of betraying the interests of the persons concerned”.
On the recent resignations by five senior Sena functionaries Uddhav said: “I had asked Rahul Narvekar to come and meet me to discuss issues relating to him. But, he did not come. Now, from his statement that I have read in newspapers, it becomes crystal clear to me as well as people as to what exactly he had in mind. But, I can say one thing for sure, the people who have deserted the Sena – a party built by late Bal Thackeray –do not deserve to be called as Shiv Sainiks in the first place”.