Shiv Sena snaps alliance with BJP for Maharashtra civic polls

“We shall not go around with a begging bowl. We have wasted 25 years in this alliance. But no more. Shiv Sena will contest all the civic body elections independently and will not have an alliance with them (BJP) henceforth,” thundered Thackeray at a party workers’ rally in suburban Goregaon on Thursday evening.

The much-anticipated move came after a stinging speech in which he criticized the BJP with which the party is in alliance in Maharashtra and centre, and directly targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The move was greeted with cheers and a thunderous applause with the workers chanting to Thackeray’s call for fighting the ensuing elections separately.

Since past few days, talks between the two parties have been faltering with BJP making it clear that it was “prepared to fight alone” if the alliance with Shiv Sena fails to materialise. 

It may be noted that, BJP and Shiv Sena finally began talks for a possible alliance in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on January 16. However, after the first round of talks, the job of resolving certain sticking points has been left to CM Devendra Fadnavis and Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray. Although the talks were not conclusive, the parties agreed to take a decision on the alliance by January 21.