NEW DELHI. Senior
Shiv Sena leader and Rajya Sabha MP
Sanjay Raut today confirmed that the alliance between his party and BJP in Maharashtra was on the verge of break-up, reported ANI. Raut was reacting to remarks made by Shiv Sena's youth wing head Aaditya Thackeray on Thursday where he threatened to walk out of BJP-led Maharashtra government within a year.
Raut said that whatever Aaditya said was after taking his father and party chief Uddhav into confidence.
Addressing a party event in Ahmednagar, Aaditya said that Shiv Sena would form government in the state on its own strength after quitting power in a year. He urged party workers to prepare for the eventuality and start poll preparations.
"Political temperatures are high in Maharashtra. I don't know when elections will be held, but Uddhav saheb will take a call on exact date to end alliance," the junior Thackeray added.
This is not the first instance of Shiv Sena threatening to pull out of
Devendra Fadnavis government. From time to time, its leaders have talked about ending the coalition.
Earlier this year, Uddhav hinted towards parting ways with BJP after being disgruntled with its failure to check rising prices of petrol and diesel. However, during a party meet held at Matoshree in September, 25 out of 63 MLAS from the party opposed the move.
Recently, the Sena also praised Rahul Gandhi and said his "body language has improved" and "he now has the credentials to lead the country since the Modi wave had faded away".
The comments elicited a reaction from Fadnavis who asked Sena to stop playing the role of a ruling party and opposition simultaneously.
(with inputs from agencies)
