BJP-Sena will contest LS polls together not only in 2019 but in 2024 as well: Shah

BJP chief Amit Shah meets Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray. Photo: FILE (PTI)

MUMBAI: Ahead of his meeting with Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, BJP chief Amit Shah on Wednesday said his party doesn't only want to contest 2019 Lok Sabha polls with Shiv Sena as its partner but also the general elections of 2014. In an interview given to a Marathi news channel, Shah said the BJP would like to contest not only 2019 Lok Sabha elections but also the elections of 2014 with Shiv Sena as its alliance partner. Shah said he will meet Sena chief and convince him to stay in the NDA. The meeting is being seen with much significance as the BJP and the Shiv Sena have been bickering despite being allies at the central and state level. The two allies contested the May 28 bypolls to Palghar Lok Sabha constituency of Maharashtra separately and engaged in a bitter campaign against each other. The Shiv Sena has particularly been upset with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has repeatedly attacked him. After facing defeat in the Palghar bypolls at the hands of the BJP, the Shiv Sena labelled the ally party as its "biggest political enemy". Even on Tuesday, the Sena questioned the "need" for the meeting between Shah and Thackeray "after a gap of four years" (since the Modi government was formed). The Shiv Sena has also already declared that it will go alone in the 2019 general elections.