BJP, Shiv Sena ideology based on hatred, both harmful for country: Rahul Gandhi

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Friday said the ideology of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Shiv Sena is based on a politics of hatred and of bullying people, and that both parties were harmful for the country.

"The ideology of the BJP and the Shiv Sena is based on a politics of hatred and of bullying people. They are harmful for the country," said Gandhi.

The Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party have formed an alliance to contest the polls in Maharashtra which is to take place in October this year.

Earlier today, leaders of both parties held a meeting to discuss election strategies, after which Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said the decision of the grand alliance had been taken unanimously.

"The decision over our grand alliance to fight the upcoming elections together has been taken unanimously. Although, we did not discuss the distribution of seats," said Raut.

Earlier, there were speculations over a possible split between the BJP and the Shiv Sena over distribution of seats for contention of polls in Maharashtra.

However, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut later denied reports of any form of tussle between the two parties.