Pune: BJP on Sunday sought to play down its differences with ally Shiv Sena in Maharashtra and said the saffron outfit would continue to be an important constituent of the NDA.
Asked to comment on the comments of Maharashtra BJP leaders, accusing the Sena of not supporting its candidates in civic as well as state legislative council elections in the state, party General Secretary Ravishankar Prasad said, "There can be honest differences between the state units of both the parties but the alliance forged in 1989 remains unaffected. The Sena continues to be part of NDA."
Upset over his son`s defeat in the state legislative council election from Jalgaon, leader of the opposition in the state Assembly Eknath Khadse had accused the Sena of not supporting BJP in the campaign, adding that this unfriendly attitude could affect the long standing alliance between the two parties.
In reply to a question, Prasad, however, admitted that BJP missed its late leader Pramod Mahajan, who often acted as a trouble shooter to ensure harmony between the two alliance partners in Maharashtra.
PTI
