Shiv Sena decides to go solo in Bihar assembly poll

Says it wants to become a pan-India party

The ongoing feud between the rul-ing partners Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena, took a new twist after the latter decided to go solo in the upcoming elections to the Bihar assembly.

The Sena is quite aggressive and vocal in expressing anger over BJP's neglect at the Centre and in Maharashtra. It plans to contest 50 to 100 seats. The decision comes at a time when the BJP and its allies Lok Janshakti Party, Hindustani Awam Morcha and Rashtriya Lok Samata Party have to formally announce seat sharing for Bihar Assembly.

Shiv Sena's move to independently enter Bihar also comes when Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen leader Asaduddin Oawaisi has declared to contest 24 seats in the Seemanchal region which has a substantial Muslim population.

Shiv Sena MP and spokesman Sanjay Raut told that if the MIM can contest, why can’t Shiv Sena? He strongly justi-fied Shiv Sena's decision to go solo saying that as a political party it has its own policy and it is an attempt to become Pan India party.

He added that Shiv Sena has its presence in Bihar and by contesting assembly poll it will make all efforts to consolidate its position.

He indicated Sena will go alone in Uttar Pradesh too in the ensuing election slated for 2017.

''Shiv Sena is committed to Hindu-tva and it is quite natural it will be one of the major poll plank in Bihar. This apart, the party will reach out to the voters on the dev-elopment issue. Bihar needs a major push for its development and it is the responsibility of both the state and the Centre. Shiv Sena is    quite keen to contribute to this process,'' Raut said.

Meanwhile, Sunday's move also comes after BJP and Shiv Sena were pitted against each other on meat sale ban in Mumbai.

Further, BJP has attacked Shiv Sena for the alleged Rs 100-crore scam in nala cleaning contracts and multi-crore octroi scam in Greater Mumbai.

Incidentally, Shiv Sena leads an alliance with BJP in the Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation.