Mumbai: Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday hinted that he is ready to form a state government with the BJP, but he made it clear that he was “waiting silently” for BJP to make the first move.
Uddhav, without taking names, taunted Raj Thackeray and Narayan Rane saying that voters had taught them a lesson for giving grief to late Balasaheb Thackeray. He also made fun of the opinion polls and exit polls, which gave BJP a majority.
Uddhav met the press at Matoshree on Sunday evening. He started off by thanking the electorate for coming out to vote and admitted that none of the political parties achieved what they desired.
“We fought a lone battle and did well. I don’t know how to thank the people. I make a promise not to break the trust of the people who have put their belief in us. I have no proposal for the BJP. I will not make an offer to them, but I will think if I get an offer. Imagine if I go with a proposal and they go with the NCP... It’s better to wait and remain silent,” he said.
The press then threw some tough questions at Uddhav, which included those about his stand on the post of chief minister, breaking Maharashtra to carve out a separate Vidarbha, his next line of action, about Sena as an Opposition party etc.
Uddhav parried all the ‘hypothetical’ questions and reminded the people how BJP had severely criticised the NCP. However, Uddhav added that his vision document would be a talking point for an alliance with the BJP.
Uddhav indirectly hinted at a post-poll alliance with the BJP, stating he was thankful that Ramdas Athawale, L.K. Advani and Sudhir Mungantiwar were in support of Sena and not NCP for an alliance. He added, “For the past generation, leaders like Mr Advani, Atal Bihari Vajpa yee and Gopinath Munde have stressed that Sena-BJP was a relationship and not an alliance.”
Speaking on the “shocking” loss of their MLA Subhash Desai from Goregaon, he said, “I have no idea how he lost. I am pained. Desai used to work round the clock.” He made a special mention about reclaiming Dadar-Parel-Lalbaug areas, which were “dear” to his father Bal Thackeray.
