BJP Parliamentary Board to decide on Maharashtra strategy: Prakash Javadekar

NEW DELHI: Union minister Prakash Javadekar today said BJP will emerge as the single largest party in Maharashtra and all decisions on alliance will be taken by the party's Parliamentary Board.

"We will emerge as the single largest party and our focus will be on good governance. As for any tie-up with other parties, the Parliamentary Board will take a call," he said as counting of votes progressed in Maharashtra.

Javadekar said the BJP had fought against Congress and NCP government in the state.

Asked about the possibility of BJP going with Shiv Sena, Union minister Piyush Goyal said Sena representative continued to be in the Union Cabinet even today.

A couple of days ago Sena chief Udhav Tkackeray had also remarked that alliances and friendships do not disappear just like that.

"There was nothing to attack (Sena). It was only seat adjustments that did not work," he said when told that the BJP did not attack Sena during the campaign.

Asked about the possibility of tying up with NCP, Goyal said he did not see any reason for BJP to explore new partnership.

RSS ideologue M G Vaidya said Shiv Sena will be a natural partner with BJP. He said BJP should not tie up with NCP or Congress because they are unlike partners.

After BJP's performance in the Assembly polls, Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for it and termed him as a "leader of the second freedom struggle".

"It's simply Modi magic," she said adding that Modi is the most "charismatic leader India has ever had since Nehru".

Saying that India has taken its first step towards "Congress-mukt Bharat" after BJP won a thumping majority in the general elections, she said "it's the age of a charismatic leader."

"Nehru was that leader after the first freedom struggle. Modiji will be the leader of our second freedom struggle," she said.

Although she refused to comment on the contentious CM issue in Maharashtra saying that the "party will take a call" now that the "people have given BJP the mandate".

Her remarks came on the sidelines of a function celebrating the birth centenary of Jain saint Acharya Tulsi.