Sensing the predicament that his “dominant” ruling ally the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) finds itself in, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray quite bluntly told his ally that he was not always obliged to understand the “problems” they (BJP) had and wanted talks over government formation to proceed on the lines of the power sharing agreement they had when they first struck an alliance before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Speaking to newspersons here on Thursday after most of the results and trends indicated that the BJPs best laid plans of grabbing power on its own had gone awry, the Sena president remarked that the results had grounded those high flying (BJP) who had taken the people for granted. He added that the verdict was not just an eyeopener, the people have kept alive the democracy by opening everybodys eyes to the harsh ground realities.
Replying to queries over whether the Sena will now stake claim to the Chief Ministers post or not, Thackeray reminded that before the alliance pact was finalized for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls the two alliance partners had agreed to share power equally, equally sharing of seats. However, he added that the BJP state president Chandrakant Patil had remarked that the Sena will understand the BJPs compulsions and problems, hence the Sena agreed to contest less number of seats. “I am not always bound to understand all your problems”, remarked Uddhav. Pointing to the senior Sena leaders sitting besides him he added that they will hold talks with the BJP leadership on the basis of the power sharing agreement inked before the Lok Sabha polls.
To another query, he remarked that the poll pact cemented before the Lok Sabha had laid down all the details and all government formation talks should progress from that premise only. Dropping yet another hint at the BJP, the Sena president while commenting upon NCP performance, remarked that he was not jealous of anybodys good performance. He also chided the Congress, NCP led opposition to wake up and play an role of an effective opposition and lessen the Sena burden. On the question of NCP chief Sharad Pawar being targeted during the poll campaign with Enforcement Directorate (ED) notice, he argued that elections ought to be fought on issues rather than on personalities.
