Do allies grow on trees? Uddhav Thackeray takes on BJP

Mumbai: Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has asked the BJP to explain how exactly it plans to draw new partners to the national coalition that it fronts, the National Democratic Alliance or NDA. "Allies don't exactly grow on trees," Mr Thackeray said today, declaring that the political ensemble now has just about enough members for a cosy tea party.

In an editorial in the Sena's magazine, Mr Thackeray warned the BJP that the decision to cast Narendra Modi as the face of its election campaign will place it off-limits for partners.

Mr Modi's recent promotion led to a major crisis for the NDA: regional powerhouse Nitish Kumar and his party, the Janata Dal (United) or JD(U), quit the coalition earlier this month. The JD(U) was the second-largest member of the alliance.

"Friends have to be nurtured for years with trust and service; they are not like seasonal crops which can be plucked when needed," Mr Thackeray said.

Without the JD(U), the NDA's primary members are the BJP, the Sena and the Akalis.

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The Sena had recently suggested that it would like to see the BJP pick Sushma Swaraj as its prime ministerial candidate. Mr Thackeray today seemed to reiterate that Mr Modi's VVIP status could become a liability for the NDA, which needs more members to present a serious challenge to the ruling coalition that's led by the Congress.

"Is the BJP in a position to win the elections on its own strength? Who are its new friends, this must be made clear now," Mr Thackeray said.

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Last week, BJP chief Rajnath Singh reportedly offered Mr Thackeray the post of Convenor of the NDA at a meeting in Mumbai, a post that was vacated by JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav when his party quit the alliance. BJP leader LK Advani is the coalition's chairman.

"The post of NDA convenor is vacant. But what will this person do? Call the other two parties for tea?" Mr Thackeray asked.