No option for Shiv Sena, BJP but to come together: Gadkari on BMC results

"I feel leaders of both parties have to take a decision, showing sujh bujh (understanding) and maturity," Gadkari said. Photo: PTI

MUMBAI: A day after Shiv Sena and BJP finished neck-to-neck in BMC polls result which threw up a hung verdict, senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari on Friday said there is "no option" for his party and Shiv Sena than joining hands for control of the Mumbai civic body. "The situation now is that both parties have no option but to come together again," Gadkari said. "The final decision on this issue has to be taken by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray. Both are mature and I am sure they will take the right decision," he said. "I feel leaders of both parties have to take a decision, showing understanding and maturity," Gadkari said. He singled out Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' for its targeting of PM Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah. "If there has to be a friendship with us (BJP), then there has to be a check on the writings in Saamana. How will there be friendship when Saamana, on a daily basis, writes insulting things about the PM and our party president?" he said. "I feel that had these things been avoided, there would not have been so much bitterness between BJP and Sena," Gadkari said. Shiv Sena should take care that relations between the two parties should not deteriorate because of Saamana, he said. Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena today received a shot in the arm with three independent corporators declaring support for the party, taking its tally to 87. Any party or combine requires 114 corporators for a simple majority in the 227-member BMC house. (With inputs from PTI)