Now a 'poster war' between BJP and Sena over demonetisation

MUMBAI: Ahead of the Mumbai civic body polls, a new 'poster war' has erupted between the BJP and its oldest ally Shiv Sena over the issue of demonetisation and black money.

While a poster put up by the BJP shows Prime Minister Narendra Modi receiving blessings from late Sena supremo Bal Thackeray, a counter poster put up by its ally taunts BJP saying it finally remembered the Sena patriarch.

According to Sena leader, Prasad Lad, BJP's Mumbai wing vice president put up a poster at a traffic signal near the NCP office at Nariman Point this morning while the Sena's South Mumbai vibhag Pramukh Pandurang Sakpal put up another poster to counter BJP in the same area.

Lad's poster bears Modi's photo at one corner where Bal Thackeray is shown in a way that seems he is blessing Modi on his demonetisation decision. A line on the poster states 'Kalya Paishacha Khatma, hech Achche Din' (End of black money means good days have arrived).

Sena's poster meanwhile also uses Bal Thackeray's photo with the lines 'Prime Minister Narendra Modincha Kewilwana Akrosh (PM Narendra Modi's appealing howl), 'Shewati Shiv Sena pramukhanchi athwan Zalich' (finally he has been reminded of Bal Thackeray) scribbled below.

Recently, while Sena MPs had met Modi to submit a Memorandum that sought to allow DCC banks to allow exchange of old notes, Modi reportedly told them that had Bal Thackeray been alive, he would have blessed him.

Meanwhile, Uddhav Thackeray has taken a harsh stand over the chaos among people who are standing in long queues to withdraw cash from banks and ATMs.

He has threatened the BJP that he would not shy from taking an extreme step if Modi ignores common people's difficulties after the withdrawal of higher denomination of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000.

Police officials later removed both the posters.

Polls to the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai are scheduled to take place next year.

On November 8, Prime Minister Modi had announced his government's decision to demonetise Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes.