ET analysis: Attack on Sudheendra Kulkarni shows Shiv Sena’s grouse towards BJP

MUMBAI:The attack on Sudheendra Kulkarni is Shiv Sena’s way of getting back at BJP. Its ties with BJP have been strained since 2014. For years, the BJP looked the other way as the Sena poured scorn on its leaders but everything changed after its dramatic win in the LS polls.

Even after falling short of a majority in Maharashtra, the BJP invited the Sena to be its junior partner only on its terms. The slighting of the Sena continues even now. At Modi’s recent rally, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray was invited only in the last moment and was not given a place on the dais. The Sena hits back in the best way it knows: The Ghulam Ali and Kasuri incidents should be seen in this backdrop.

“The Sena protest against Ghulam Ali and Kasuri have more to do with the conflicts with BJP,” said political analyst Pratap Asbe. A BJP leader admitted that the Sena’s attacks has left the BJP vulnerable. “The protests are meant to embarrass Fadnavis and Modi. We can’t act against the Sena because it would say we have become anti-nationals,” he said.

The Sena has put up candidates in the Bihar too. Sena co-ordinator Vinay Shukla said, “we are not in a gatbandhan but in a tagh-bandhan (cheating alliance). For years there was an understanding that we would be left alone in Maharashtra while BJP would contest elsewhere. They backstabbed us, so we have decided to not hold back.” At least five Sena candidates in Bihar are BJP rebels.

Asbe feels that the Sena would keep raking up such issues. “ I feel this thing is not going to stop as the BJP is not going to accept the Sena demands and eventually the two would go their separate ways.”