With the BJP set to face its first-ever non confidence motion on Friday, its oldest ally Shiv Sena has chosen to keep its cards close to its chest. Party sources indicated on Thursday that it is unlikely to support the no-confidence motion.
“Only Uddhavji Thackeray can announce party’s position. All MPs have been asked to be present in Lok Sabha on Friday and the position will be conveyed to them in the morning,” a senior party MP said. Sources within the Sena however pointed out that Mr. Thackeray did not meet Telugu Desam MPs last week, when they had come to Mumbai.
“This no confidence motion is mainly about not giving special state status to Andhra Pradesh. Why should we support it?” asked another MP.
On Thursday, reports about BJP President Amit Shah reaching out to Mr Thackeray were making rounds in political circles. These reports were neither confirmed nor rejected by the Sena.
The MP said that the party has not forgotten how former Union Civil Aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju handled the matter of Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad when he was banned from flying. A year back, Sena MPs had demanded that Mr. Raju revoke the ban which led to senior central ministers being forced to intervene and solve the issue.
Despite this, Sena has found itself in the dock due to its aggressive opposition to the Centre’s proposed oil refinery project in Maharashtra’s Konkan region. Sena has already announced its opposition to the project citing local protests and even joined hands with the opposition in Maharashtra Assembly to demand the scrapping of this project. The locals leading the agitation have asked Sena to vote against the BJP on Friday, if it truly supports the anti-oil refinery agitation. Last week, the party suffered its first defeat in the area, touted as its bastion, in the local body elections at the hands of Congress. Sena’s support to the BJP will send the wrong signal, fear party MLAs.
“After all, Uddhavji knows what is best for the party. We are sure that he will take the right decision,” said a party legislator from Konkan.