Mumbai: The Shiv Sena, the BJP's cantankerous partner now accused of playing a double role by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, has made a classic opposition move, distributing a booklet to its party workers titled "Scamster BJP".
Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray presided over the distribution at his Mumbai home, Matoshree, on Wednesday.
The Sena publication lists BJP leaders who face corruption charges, including former minister and senior BJP leader Eknath Khadse, who is accused in a land grab case, Education Minister Vinod Tawde who faces the charge of irregularities in procurement of fire tenders for schools and Food and Civil Supplies Minister Girish Mahajan, accused of corruption in the procurement of tur dal.
The Shiv Sena has alleged in the booklet that companies blacklisted by the Shiv Sena-controlled Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation or BMC in Mumbai have been given contracts in Mumbai and Nagpur, where the BJP now controls civic bodies.
The Sena, which is a partner of the BJP both in the Maharashtra and the Central governments, has been increasingly adversarial, attacking the BJP almost daily and the booklet is seen as a signal to party cadres that elections in 2019 - both assembly and national - will be fought as rivals.
Last week, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told the Shiv Sena that it "cannot simultaneously play the roles of a ruling party and an opposition at the same time." Uddhav Thackeray, he said, "has to decide," seen as an ultimatum to the ally.
Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray presided over the distribution at his Mumbai home, Matoshree, on Wednesday.
The Sena publication lists BJP leaders who face corruption charges, including former minister and senior BJP leader Eknath Khadse, who is accused in a land grab case, Education Minister Vinod Tawde who faces the charge of irregularities in procurement of fire tenders for schools and Food and Civil Supplies Minister Girish Mahajan, accused of corruption in the procurement of tur dal.
The Shiv Sena has alleged in the booklet that companies blacklisted by the Shiv Sena-controlled Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation or BMC in Mumbai have been given contracts in Mumbai and Nagpur, where the BJP now controls civic bodies.
Advertisement
The Sena, which is a partner of the BJP both in the Maharashtra and the Central governments, has been increasingly adversarial, attacking the BJP almost daily and the booklet is seen as a signal to party cadres that elections in 2019 - both assembly and national - will be fought as rivals.
Advertisement
Last week, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told the Shiv Sena that it "cannot simultaneously play the roles of a ruling party and an opposition at the same time." Uddhav Thackeray, he said, "has to decide," seen as an ultimatum to the ally.
Uddhav Thackeray, Devendra Fadnavis said, "has to decide," seen as an ultimatum to the ally.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
PM Modi Not Our Enemy, If He Makes A Mistake...: Shankaracharya Mamata Banerjee Meets Uddhav Thackeray In Mumbai, Says "NDA May Not Last Long" Mamata Banerjee To Meet Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad Pawar For "Political Talks" In Mumbai INDIA's Bihar Ally Mukesh Sahani's Father Brutally Murdered At Home Meet Indian-Origin Usha Chilukuri Vance, Wife Of Trump's Vice President Pick "Regret To Inform...": Trainee IAS Officer's Disability Request Was Denied Watch: Vegetable Vendor's Emotional Reaction After Her Son Cracks CA Exam "Demand Of Every Patriotic Indian Is...": Rahul Gandhi On Doda Terror Attack Hyundai Exter Hy-CNG Duo Launched In India With Dual-Cylinder Tech Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.