Mumbai: Responding to criticism that it
did not abide by the coalition dharma in the recent
Legislative Council elections, Shiv Sena on Monday said alliance
partner BJP should explain why it fielded Madhu Chavan when
the numbers were stacked against that party.
"BJP fielded Chavan despite the fact that it had only
29 votes, far less than what was needed for victory. Those
talking about coalition dharma should also remember that it is
about taking alliance partner into confidence while fielding
candidates," Sena spokesperson Neelam Gorhe told news agencies.
"Would BJP have fielded Chavan had there been open
ballot system," Gorhe said. "BJP leaders should explain Sena
Chief Bal Thackeray the basis on which Chavan was fielded,"
she added.
Congress candidate Bhai Jagtap and Shiv Sena`s Ramdas
Kadam were today declared elected to the Maharashtra
Legislative Council from the Mumbai local self-government
bodies constituency.
Chavan was defeated.
Kadam said BJP had had tried to defeat him but its plan was ruined.
The development comes two days after former state BJP
President Nitin Gadkari was named BJP president.
Chavan did not get the second preference votes of
Sena.
"It would have been in keeping with the alliance
dharma if Sena had cast second preference votes to him," a BJP
leader said.
The results show that there is unity in Sena voters
and they are with Balasaheb and Executive President Uddhav
Thackeray, Gorhe said.
-PTI
