File photo: BJP President Amit Shah. (Press Trust of India)
The Shiv Sena may be sitting in the Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly but this has not prevented BJP and Sena leaders from sharing a stage.
BJP President Amit Shah and Sena MP from Aurangabad, Chandrakant Khaire, were present at the first crushing season of a private sugar factory on Friday.
Mr Khaire told reporters later that he had come for the function to put forth grievances of farmers before the BJP chief.
In his speech, Mr Shah said Mr Khaire should not be concerned about his presence at the event as it was a "farmers' platform".
"Khaire was saying something about his having to welcome me on this stage. It does not matter who welcomes whom. I will welcome him on this stage if that is the case because this is a farmers' stage," Mr Shah said.
"When Narendrabhai (Modi) campaigned in Lok Sabha polls and sought a vote for change, nobody knew that the Shiv Sena-BJP combine will win 42 of the total 48 seats in Maharashtra," Mr Shah said.
"People of Maharashtra have made the largest contribution in Modi's becoming the Prime Minister," the BJP president said.
"The work Modi government has done in five months, is something which cannot be done even in five years," he claimed.
"The priority of the BJP government in Maharashtra, headed by Devendra Fadnavis, is to strengthen the cooperative sector," Mr Shah said.
Sandipan Bhumre, Sena legislator from Paithan, was also present at the function.