Shiv Sena declares BJP 'Enemy No. 1' in Maharashtra Assembly poll

Says it was its duty to expose BJP's hypocrisy in the larger interest of the state

Even after the campaigning for the Maharashtra assembly poll ended yesterday, Shiv Sena has continued to attack its former ally BJP. Shiv Sena has declared that its former ally BJP is its number one enemy.  and termed Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which ruled the state for 15 years, as done and dusted.

In a scathing editorial in party's mouthpiece Saamna, Shiv Sena said it is its duty to expose BJP's hypocricy in the larger interest of the state. Blaming BJP to create a divide between Marathi and Gujarati speaking population especially in Mumbai, Shiv Sena, hoped Gujarati people will continue express their faith and confidence in the leadership of Shiv Sena supremo late Bal Thackeray and thereby support the party in the assembly election.

Shiv Sena said that its alliance with BJP for last 25 years was based on Hindutva but the latter broke it. Sena president Uddhav Thackeray had already castigated BJP for betrayal and back stabbing. ''Alliance between Shiv Sena and BJP was one of the sculptures developed by Bal Thackeray. Had that sculpture (read alliance) kept in tact it would have benefitted BJP. However, BJP broke the alliance and now its leader Vinod Tawde is promising development of Bal Thackeray's memorial,'' Shiv Sena said in the editorial.

Further, Shiv Sena reiterated that it was committed for united Maharashtra and protect pride of Maharashtra. ''It is quite ironical that BJP roped in Karnataka's former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa in border districts of Maharashtra. Does it not insult to those 105 martyrs who sacrificed during Samyukta Maharashtra movement,'' the party observed. The party took objection comes at a time when the border dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka remains unresolved.

Uddhav has blamed BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for playing divisive politics. Even when Modi has clarified that until he is there in the Prime Minister's office Maharashtra will not be divided. However, BJP's manifesto promises smaller states while state BJP chief Devendra Fadnavis declares party's support for statehood for Vidarbha.