BMC Polls: Shiv Sena acknowledging Congress' contributions puts BJP in its place, says Chidambaram

With all eyes on the upcoming crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), elections, the Congress has hit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) right where it hurts, by hailing Shiv Sena for acknowledging the contributions made by the former prime ministers of the grand old party for the nation, especially Mumbai.

Speaking to ANI here, senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram quipped that the Shiv Sena finds the BJP "more of a baggage than an asset" and is slowly distancing itself from the government.

"I think even when they joined the government they had problems about portfolios and the numbers, so I won't be surprised if the Shiv Sena pulls out of the state government." Chidambaram said.

In a clear swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the former finance minister further complemented Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray for acknowledging the contributions made by Congress prime ministers in the past.

"The bulk of the development done in the nation in the last 70 years has been under the Congress Government. Take Mumbai for example, your Sea Link, CST airport, metro.all this came because there was a Congress Government. And the Shiv Sena acknowledging it puts the BJP in place," he added.

Last week, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's raincoat jibe at his predecessor Manmohan Singh in the Parliament, the Shiv Sena came out in strong support of the Congress leadership and asserted that India has made its mark across the globe because of the work by the previous Congress-led governments.

"Indira Gandhi sacrificed herself for the country. Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh successfully steered this country from economic anarchy. If these people had not done what they did in the last 60 years, then Modi would have had nothing in his hands but dust," read an editorial in Sena mouthpiece Saamna.

The editorial further went on to call the Prime Minister to snap out of from his 'negative mindset' stating that he does not leave any instance to corner the Congress on the issue of demonetisation and economic scams.

Earlier, after severing all ties with the BJP for civic polls, Uddhav Thackeray had hinted at pulling back support to the Devendra Fadanvis led government in the state.

Meanwhile, relations between Shiv Sena and BJP have never been this strained as there is hardly any issue where the Sena has extended support towards the Centre or State Government.