Maharashtra: Sainiks upset as Shiv Sena 'bends, crawls' to tie-up with BJP

MUMBAI: Upset at the growing prospect of Shiv Sena aligning with BJP, Sainiks have taken to posters and bill boards to appeal to their leaders to "show some self-respect" and not join a BJP-led government in Maharashtra.

Several such posters and boards have appeared over the last two days in Sena strongholds like Sewri. Experts say it is rare for Shiv Sena cadre to question or express a contrarian view publicly over a decision taken by the Thackeray family, adding that the posters reflect a deep sense of frustration among the party ranks over the possibility of Sena joining a BJP-led alliance.

"Hope Shiv Sena leaders take the signal and sit in the opposition," tweeted Bharatkumar Raut, who was a Shiv Sena member in the Rajya Sabha until April. "The Sena is not just bending, but the BJP is making them crawl. They are not getting the required number of portfolios and they don’t have a say in what portfolios they would be having and yet the Sena is desperate to be with BJP because a certain section of leaders want to be in power," said Raut, who is currently not associated with Sena.

Raut said he was surprised that Sena was willing to take "so much humiliation" from the BJP. "Why can’t the party sit in the opposition? Certain leaders want some ministerial posts and are hoping to be appointed in government bodies, but at what cost? This has ended up demoralising the party cadre. This level of humiliation would not have been accepted if Bal Thackeray was alive," he said.

Raut added that Uddhav Thackeray might be going in for the alliance with BJP because the Sena requires the latter’s support in running BMC and is afraid that the party might pull support from BMC if Sena doesn’t support it in the assembly. "BMC is the oxygen for Sena. If Sena is not in power in BMC, then the party would find it hard to exist," said Raut.

Many Shiv Sainiks said, on condition of anonymity, that they were upset with the party for forming the government with BJP. "We have fought a bitter election against them, we have called each other names and now aligning with them again is of course uncomfortable. Plus, we are hearing stories of how BJP did not even spare any time speaking to our leaders in Delhi. Under such circumstances, how are we supposed to feel happy," said a Sena Shakha Pramukh from South Mumbai.