Maharashtra: PM Narendra Modi had no sympathy for Shiv Sena, but it expected much, says Sharad Pawar

MUMBAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah, the top BJP leaders, had absolutely no sympathy for Shiv Sena despite the parties being in alliance for decades and, in fact, BJP had drafted an ambitious plan to wipe out Sena from urban areas, said NCP founder Sharad Pawar in the second part of his autobiography, 'Lok Maze Sangatee', which he will release on Tuesday.
The volume focuses on the politically tumultuous years of 2014 to 2019, and includes his analysis of the BJP-Sena turmoil, NCP's upheavals and even mentions nephew Ajit Pawar raising the banner of revolt by joining hands with BJP's Devendra Fadnavis in an aborted bid at government formation. All along, BJP felt the 2019 assembly polls would be one sided, but it was proved wrong, said Pawar.
The book says after the 2014 assembly elections, there was a drastic change in the relationship between BJP and Sena. "Though there was an alliance government, BJP had an upper hand. The rift had widened to a great extent, so much so that most of the Shiv Sena cabinet members were moving around with resignation letters in their pockets."
He added: "From the body language of Modi and Shah, it appeared they did not have sympathy for Shiv Sena, while Shiv Sena had massive expectations from BJP. When there was a need for dialogue, the BJP leadership always knocked on the doors of Matoshree... In the changed political situation too, Uddhav Thackeray expected BJP will follow the old tradition. But BJP leaders felt Balsaheb Thackeray's status was different, and it was wrong on the part of Uddhav Thackeray to expect senior BJP leaders to visit him."
Pawar said NCP experienced its biggest political setback between 2014 and 2019: performance in the Lok Sabha and assembly elections were dismal, results from the civic polls were disappointing.
Neither was all well in the ruling coalition. "After the 2014 assembly elections, BJP joined hands with Shiv Sena, but there was atmosphere of mistrust," said Pawar. "BJP always thought Shiv Sena has a stronghold in urban areas... unless it is uprooted, it will not be possible for BJP to establish itself across the state. When Sena realised BJP's game plan, it resulted in massive unrest among the rank and file. However, no adverse impact was seen immediately, as BJP and Shiv Sena were in alliance and in power."
The book claims BJP also planned to wipe out Shiv Sena in BMC as well as half a dozen municipal corporations in the MMR region.
Hinting at BJP opportunism, Pawar said when Uddhav told a public meeting in Pandharpur that Sena has wasted 25 years in alliance, Amit Shah realised BJP needed Sena for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. So he knocked on Matoshree's doors. "Once again, it was decided to contest together. Then for a while Devendra Fadnavis was out, there was discussion between Shah and Uddhav Thackeray, but the outcome of the discussion was never made public," said Pawar. Thackeray has claimed he was promised the CM's chair.
The saffron alliance won the Lok Sabha polls, but there was fresh dispute over sharing of seats for the assembly polls. All along, BJP told Sena its influence is dwindling, and finally a tie-up was thrashed out, but Sena contested fewer seats than BJP.