Nitin Gadkari doesn't rule out post-poll pact with Shiv Sena

Pune/Nagpur: In an indication of a possible post-poll understanding with Shiv Sena, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that BJP could consider joining hands again with its estranged ally if the situation so demanded.

Describing breaking of the 25-year-long saffron alliance in Maharashtra as most "unfortunate and painful," Gadkari, when asked about a post poll tie-up (in a hung Assembly scenario) with the Sena, said, "If the situation arises, we can certainly think of that. Shiv Sena has been our ally bound together on the base of Hindutva."

Stating that there is "bitterness" about the Sena in BJP, he said, "We have the same amount of love for Bal Thackeray as we have for Atalji."

"Our Parliamentary Board will consider these issues if necessary," he added.

When asked whether BJP would consider taking support of NCP-Congress after the elections as an expediency, Gadkari said, "We will get majority. No ifs and buts."

The lone Sena member of NDA Cabinet Anant Geete need not resign and nobody from BJP has asked him to step down, he told a Marathi news channel.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray attacked BJP saying it "used" the Sena to capture power in Delhi and broke the alliance afterwards for the Maharashtra elections.

Recalling the late Pramod Mahajan and Gopinath Munde's role in keeping the saffron alliance intact over the years, he said, "These BJP leaders never pushed things to the breaking point."

"Now for today's BJP leaders, it has become a game of chess," he said.

Thackeray, addressing a meeting at Parbhani in the state's Marathwada region last night, also ridiculed BJP's slogan, which seeks blessings of Shiv Chhatrapati saying that the party never even celebrated Shivjayanti.

Meanwhile, MNS chief Raj Thackeray blamed NCP chief Sharad Pawar for the 25-year-old Shiv Sena-BJP alliance split in Maharashtra ahead of the Assembly polls.

"He (Pawar) told a senior BJP leader that you break the alliance with Sena and we (NCP) will support you," Thackeray alleged.

Addressing a meeting of MNS supporters in western part of the city on Wednesday night, Thackeray claimed that one of his close confidantes had heard the conversation, which was confirmed to him (Thackeray) by a journalist friend.

He ridiculed the four parties - Congress, NCP, BJP and Shiv Sena - for the dramatic developments leading to break up in the two groups and blamed them for mess in the state.

He said the Congress-led government was in power for 15 years in state, only because the opposition was grossly ineffective.

"Give me the power, I will show you what development is," the MNS chief asserted.

"We are the first party in the state to come out with a blue print of development," he pointed out and stated that if he failed to fulfil the aspirations of people of the state and bring the desired development, he would quit politics. Every politician promises roads, power and water during each election. These are the basic needs and people's right, he said.

"Why are they unable to provide these basic needs even after holding power for more than 60 years?" he asked.

These political parties and their leaders are playing with (the sentiments of) voters, he further alleged. The voters must be aware whom to elect, he stressed.

Continuing his tirade against migrants in Maharashtra, he alleged that outsiders possessed illegal arms as there was no check on the weapons that migrants carry with them.

If MNS comes to power, it will close down all private security agencies and start government-regulated ones, Raj said.