Shiv Sena to vote against BJP in Maharashtra Assembly

Sena's decision not in the interest of Maharashtra, says BJP

Shiv Sena's Ramdas Kadam said that all the 63 MLAs of the party will sit in opposition and will vote against BJP govt during trust vote today. 

"We have lost faith in them (BJP)," Kadam said.

In its mouthpiece Saamana, Shiv Sena warned its former ally that it will be disrespecting people's mandate if it takes support of NCP which "nibbled the state coffers like a mouse".

 

"Shiv Sena's decision neither in its own interest nor of Maharashtra," said BJP minister Sudhir Mungantiwar in response to Sena's stand.

 

The BJP is 22 short of the halfway mark in the Maharashtra Assembly.

 

Minister of State (MoS) for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy had yestedray said the BJP would accept the support of anyone who is in favour of the development of Maharashtra.

 

The rift between the Shiv Sena and BJP has been growing, with the Sena criticising BJP Minister Eknath Khadse outside the Vidhan Bhavan for permitting the use of Urdu language in Marathi-centric schools yesterday.

 

Earlier on Sunday, the Shiv Sena had abstained from attending the expansion of the Union Cabinet in New Delhi. The Shiv Sena had also asked its nominee Anil Desai to return to Mumbai from the national capital.

 

The BJP and Shiv Sena had snapped their 25-year alliance in September ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly polls over a seat-sharing disagreement.

 

Following the polls, the BJP had emerged as the single largest party with 122 seats in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly. The Shiv Sena finished second with 63 seats. The NCP, which emerged victorious in 41 seats, has offered the BJP 'external support' to form the government in the state.