Mumbai:
BJP leader Nitin Gadkari has been pilloried as a "businessman adept at setting up deals" by his party's oldest ally, Shiv Sena, which is upset at his talks with Raj Thackeray.
Referring to Mr Gadkari's controversial Purti Group, which was investigated for tax fraud, the Sena, in its mouthpiece Saamna, said his meeting with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader confirmed that he was "skilled in getting what he wants with zero investment."
Mr Gadkari met Raj Thackeray for lunch at a Mumbai hotel on Monday, and reportedly urged him not to contest the general election in April, as his party would only divide anti-Congress votes and harm the BJP and Shiv Sena in Maharashtra, which has the second largest number of Lok Sabha seats at 48.
"I appealed to him to either stay away from the Lok Sabha polls or help our candidates. Or contest in as few seats as possible," Mr Gadkari told reporters.
Following that meeting, MNS sources said the party may not contest; it is more focused towards the Maharashtra assembly election.
The Sena made it clear it was upset about the meeting and warned that it would "affect" the alliance.
"Mr Gadkari should not worry about the MNS as there is a nationwide wave in favour of Narendra Modi," the Saamna editorial said, raising questions throughout about the "deal".
Raj Thackeray, the estranged cousin of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, broke away from the Sena in 2005 to set up his own party, building an almost identical support base playing to regional chauvinism. He made a strong debut in the 2009 Maharashtra state election, winning 13 of 288 seats but damaging the BJP and Sena in some 55 seats.
In the 2009 Lok Sabha election, Raj Thackeray walked away with 15 per cent of the opposition votes.