It's official, Shiv Sena-BJP break 'Mahayuti' alliance after 25 years
BJP chief Amit Shah (left) and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray. (Photo: DC/PTI)
Mumbai: The 25-year-old BJP-Shiv Sena alliance split on Thursday amid continued deadlock over seat-sharing for the October 15 Maharashtra Assembly polls.
After several rounds of talks over the last few days, senior state BJP leaders announced this evening severing of the ties between the two parties, blaming Shiv Sena's "inflexibility" for it.
"We have conveyed our decision to snap ties to Shiv Sena. The decision was taken with a heavy heart," Maharashtra BJP chief Devendra Fadnavis told reporters after a meeting of the state party's Core Committee.
BJP will now take steps towards Congress free Maharashtra on its own: Eknath Khadse, BJP
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 25, 2014BJP, however, hinted at the possibility of a post-poll alliance with its estranged ally, saying the party would not criticise Sena during the campaign and remain friends.
"Our aim is to prevent the corrupt Congress-NCP government from coming to power. We will not criticise Shiv Sena during the campaign, we don't want any bitterness with our ally of 25 years," Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Eknath Khadse said. Fadnavis said BJP will go to polls with smaller 'Mahayuti' allies.
Many proposals were discussed, keeping in view time constraint, Core committee has decided to end our 25 year old alliance: Eknath Khadse
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 25, 2014He said BJP had worked out a seat-sharing deal with Mahadeo Jankar's Rashtriya Samaj Paksha and Raju Shetty's Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana.
Our talks with Vinayak Mete of Shiv Sangram are in final stages and we will also speak to RPI's Ramdas Athawale, Fadnavis said.
"We reiterate that Shiv Sena is still our friend. We will not criticise Sena and our target will be the corrupt Congress-NCP combine," he said.
We have made our alliance with Shiv Sangram, RSP and SSS: Devendra Fadnavis pic.twitter.com/EyqgFy7Mds
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 25, 2014Meanwhile, Shiv Sena chief Udhav Thackeray's son Aditya tweeted that the move was not acceptable.Very sad tht State BJP chose to part ways with 25 yr old ally Shiv Sena when we stuck together even in their Bure Din, unconditionally
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) September 25, 2014This alliance has been since before I was born. I've grown up in an atmosphere of unity with BJP leaders and members, so many memories!
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) September 25, 2014This alliance has seen many ups and downs, challenges and protests, but we faced it together. Vested interests were kept at bay
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) September 25, 2014