Mumbai: Scotching speculation of any
alliance between the Shiv Sena-BJP and Raj Thackeray-led
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), Sena chief Bal Thackeray
on Tuesday said there was no need for a "third one" in the combine.
"The Sena-BJP alliance was formed on the issue of
Hindutva and we have fought strongly against many who came in
the way. Our alliance is the only answer for all problems of
Maharashtra and there is no need for a third one," Thackeray
said in an editorial in the party mouthpiece `Saamana`.
There were reports in the media that the Sena-BJP may
go with the MNS in the Mumbai Municipal Corporation polls
scheduled next year. MNS chief Raj`s courtesy visit to state
BJP office last year had sparked the reports.
Asked about the reports, BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar
Prasad had said on Sunday that the decision about forging an
alliance with any other party would be taken at the national
level.
Senior BJP leader and MP Gopinath Munde had expressed
the possibility of the party joining hands with MNS, saying
such an alliance can bring down Congress-NCP ruling Government
in the state. He was speaking in the context of MNS dividing
votes of the saffron alliance during last Assembly polls which
could be avoided with the new formula.
Commenting on Munde`s proposal, Thackeray said, "We have
a special affection for Munde and he may be having a national
perspective while working at the national level. But still we
believe in the `family planning` formula of one or two is
enough."
Thackeray said the Sena-BJP alliance was doing very
well in the state and some people were deliberately spreading
rumours about a rift between them.
Both parties may not agree on all issues but
continuing the ties for 22 years is not an easy job. This is
not liked by the opponents and they try to create fissures, he
said.
Thackeray said the Sena never thought of any self
interest or gain in politics. The Sena-BJP strong alliance on
Hindutva issue was created in presence of leaders like A B
Vajpayee, L K Advani and Pramod Mahajan, he said.
Now only Advani is active in politics and the BJP’s
leadership is in the hands of a new generation, he noted.
"We are happy that Nitin Gadkari and Munde from
Maharashtra are leading figures in BJP’s national politics.
But it is also a fact that Sena-BJP alliance in Maharashtra
and BJP-Akali Dal alliance in Punjab are the root of the
National Democratic Alliance," he said.
PTI
