Amit Shah visits Mumbai Ganesh pandals; Opposition needles Sena-BJP

MUMBAI: The Opposition in Maharashtra on Wednesday took a jibe at the BJP-Sena ruling alliance saying the former has "no respect" for its ally as Amit Shah visited Ganesh pandals in the city but did not meet Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray who resided just "10 minutes away". BJP national president Shah visited Ganesh pandals here during the ongoing 10-day Ganpati festival. On a day-long visit to Mumbai, Shah first visited a Ganpati mandal in Bandra, headed by BJP MLA and party's city chief Ashish Shelar, to have 'darshan' of Lord Ganesh. He then proceeded to 'Lalbaugcha Raja', which is the most famous public Ganpati idol put up in Lalbaug area of Central Mumbai. Later, Shah visited the 'Girgaoncha Raja' mandal, located in Girgaon area of South Mumbai. However, the Opposition Congress and NCP seized the opportunity to take a jibe at the ruling alliance, saying the BJP even "refused" to acknowledge that its ally Shiv Sena's chief Uddhav Thackeray too resides in Bandra. Congress MLA Nitesh Rane said it is high time Sena should withdraw support from the government on moral grounds. "In earlier days, whenever a Central leader used to visit Mumbai, be it L K Advaniji, Murli Manohar Joshiji or others who have now been confined to the 'Marg Darshak Mandal' of the BJP, they used to pay a visit to 'Matoshree' to meet late Balasaheb Thackeray," he said. "But the newer generation of leaders of the BJP seem to have lost all respect for its allies," he said. "Uddhavji too stays in Bandra, not more than 10 minutes away from the place Amit Shah visited. But he did not have the courtesy or the respect to meet his party's oldest ally. If the Sena has any self-respect left, they should do away with the BJP once and for all," Rane said. NCP leader Nawab Malik said the BJP should now declare itself a party which will not need support of allies in future as well. "The BJP seems to have become too big a party that does not need any ally for support. If it doesn't respect its oldest ally, what will it do to others?" Malik asked.