Uddhav Thackeray asks BJP to clarify its stand on MNS

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena PresidentUddhav Thackeray said on Tuesday that his party has no plans of walking out on its alliance partner Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), but at the same time, made it clear that he’s very unhappy with the way BJP approached his estranged cousin Raj Thackeray for political support.

“We have been with the BJP through most trying circumstances and that’s not going to change. But the party should value our alliance and shouldn’t seek support from anybody. The cadre shouldn’t be confused... BJP should make it clear who it is with,” the Sena President told reporters in Mumbai.

Denying media reports about a rift between the Sena and BJP, Thackeray said there’s no reason to issue any threats to his alliance partner as suggested in certain sections of the media. “I feel that somebody has planted certain reports.

There are many who wantto spoil our ties, but we won’t walk into that trap. I had a meeting with BJP’s state president today, and will soon have talks with BJP’s national president too,” he said.

Without naming anybody, Thackeray targeted his cousin Raj for changing his stance on Narendra Modi. “How can somebody who criticised Modi at a public rally just a few weeks ago, suddenly support him for the Prime Minister’s post? People have to understand who is trying to split the Marathi vote. We have always been consistent,” he added.

Shiv Sena’s mouthpiece Saamana came out with an editorial on Tuesday saying the party will stick with the BJP and support Modi. “There’s now a race between all parties to announce their support for Modi; even those who were criticising him some time ago, are now suddenly backing him. We won’t be surprised if America’s President announces his support for Modi,” the editorial said.