Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday ruled out the possibility of a patch-up with former ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Political corridors were abuzz about the political realignment in Maharashtra. Speculations started after Thackeray met PM Modi in the national capital and held separate talks when he had gone to discuss the Maratha reservation issue along with Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and senior Congress leader Ashok Chavan.
Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik had also set the rumor mills rolling after he wrote a letter to Thackeray and requested him to join hands with their estranged ally. "Several central agencies are behind me and other Shiv Sena leaders like Anil Parab and Ravindra Waikar, and they and their families are being harassed," Sarnaik wrote. "It is better to join hands with Prime Minister Narendra Modi again as Shiv Sainiks feel that would save the Sena leaders...from problems," he added.
Recently, leaders of both the parties have made it amply clear that there might be differences between the two parties but they are not enemies.
“We are not India-Pakistan. Look at Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao, it is like them. Our (Shiv Sena-BJP) political ways are different but the friendship will remain intact,” Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut had said.
Former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis too had said that the two parties are not enemies though there are differences of opinions. "An appropriate decision will be taken as per situation," he added.
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