Alliance with Shiv Sena to continue at state, national level: Munde

PUNE: BJP leader Gopinath Munde today said his party's alliance with Shiv Sena would remain intact at the state and national level.

Reacting to speculation over possible understanding between the BJP, NCP and MNS, Munde said the coming together of the three parties for election to a civic post here was a political exigency confined to Pune.

BJP candidate Ganesh Bidkar was elected chairman of the Standing Committee of Pune Municipal Corporation ( PMC) on Saturday with support from NCP and MNS, inflicting a humiliating defeat on Shankar Pawar, Congress candidate backed by the Suresh Kalmadi led group in the civic body.

The election was preceded by squabbles between BJP and its ally Shiv Sena over the candidature of Bidkar. Shiv Sena members were directed by the party to abstain from voting as BJP leadership had not consulted them before fielding Bidkar for the prestigious post, Shiv Sena spokesperson Neelam Gorhe said.