MNS' chief Raj Thackeray accuses NCP chief Sharad Pawar of colluding BJP-Shiv Sena break-up

MUMBAI: NCP chief Sharad Pawar could soon become a cabinet minister in the Narendra Modi government, MNS chief Raj Thackeray has claimed, alleging that the break-up of the long-standing alliance between BJP and Shiv Sena in Maharashtra was due to Pawar’s machinations. A politician known for sharp one-liners, Thackeray has aimed most barbs primarily at Prime Minister Modi and Maratha strongman Pawar, in this assembly election season.

‘Modi didn’t want alliance’

In an exclusive interview with ET, Thackeray claims that Modi never wanted the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance to survive and the break up was planned after several rounds of talks with Pawar, who then ensured a four-cornered contest by ending the Congress-NCP tie-up. Further, Thackeray claimed that Pawar was about to join the NDA even during the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year.

“However it could not happen because of opposition from the RSS. I have come to know of at least three to four meetings Pawar had with Modi. This is what we have come to know, there could have been many more that we don’t know about. Don’t be surprised if you see Pawar as a minister in the NDA government after the elections. It was Pawar who told the BJP that if you break the alliance with the Sena then the NCP will break the alliance with the Congress.”

Thackeray slammed Modi for allegedly neglecting his Prime Ministerial responsibilities and instead focusing on Maharashtra like a chief ministerial candidate. “Soldiers are getting killed on the border, but the PM is campaigning in Maharashra and Haryana,” he said. Thackeray, in a volte face of sorts, denied having offered post-poll support to Shiv Sena led by his cousin Uddhav Thackeray.

He said he was only talking about protecting the interests of the state. In fact, he slammed Uddhav for what he termed as his “lack of political sense” in still retaining Anant Geete at the centre as minister and continuing with the alliance with the BJP in the BMC.