'Not Enemies', BJP Leader Devendra Fadnavis On Possible Alliance With Shiv Sena

Former Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said that there might be some differences between BJP and Shiv Sena but they are not enemies.

Shiv Sena's Uddhav Thackeray with BJP's Devendra Fadnavis (File Photo)

Mumbai: In a surprising turn of events, where BJP and Shiv Sena are seen criticizing each other at every step in Maharashtra, the leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said that there are some issues between his party and the ruling govt, but they are “not enemies”.

Asked by reporters whether there is a possibility of the two former allies coming together, Fadnavis said an "appropriate decision" will be taken in view of the situation.

"We (Sena and the BJP) were never enemies. They were our friends and people whom they fought against, they formed a government together with them and they left us," Fadnavis told reporters when he was asked about his meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the possibility of a rapprochement with Sena.

"There are no ifs and buts in politics. Decisions are taken as per prevailing situations," Fadnavis added.

The decade-old alliance of the Bhartiya Janta Party and Shiv Sena had parted ways after the 2019 Maharashtra elections over the issue of the chief minister's post which Sena had staked claim to. Later the Uddhav Thackeray led Shiv Sena joined hands with Nationalist Congress Party and Congress to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

He was addressing a press conference on the eve of the monsoon session of the Maharashtra legislature. "The BJP and the Shiv Sena are not enemies though there are differences of opinions. An appropriate decision will be taken as per situation," the former chief minister said.

Fadnavis said, "Our friend (read Shiv Sena) contested the 2019 Assembly elections with us. But after polls, they (Sena) joined hands with the very people (NCP and Congress) against whom we contested the polls". In the same vein, Fadnavis said Central investigating agencies are probing various cases in Maharashtra on orders of the high court and there is no political pressure on them.

Meanwhile, taking a jibe at Sena leader Sanjay Raut, Fadvanis said, "I have no information whether Sanjay Raut has met any BJP leader or not. Sanjay Raut speaks something in the morning and something else in the night."

Fadnavis' comments came after Raut tried to dismiss "rumours" about his meeting with BJP leader Ashish Shelar on July 3.

"The more such rumours spread, the stronger the MVA alliance will become. We may have political and ideological differences, but if we come face-to-face at public functions, we will cordially greet each other. I have had coffee with Shelar openly," Raut had said.