Rumblings in Shiv Sena's Goa unit ahead of assembly polls

The Shiv Sena in Goa appears to be facing an internal crisis, even as the elections to the state assembly draw closer, with its newly-appointed state chief Sudip Tamhankar claiming he is feeling suffocated within the party set-up.

Tamhankar also told reporters here on Tuesday that "wrong decisions" were being taken by the party high command and he would take a call vis a vis his association with the party "at the right time".

"I am feeling suffocated at the manner in which the party is functioning in Goa and decisions are being taken," he said.

The Shiv Sena had appointed Tamhankar, as the state president in June this year and tasked him with building the organisation and prepping up the outfit for the state assembly elections, which are likely to be held in early 2017.

However, the appointment of Shiv Joshi, as a co-chief for Goa by the party high command, has now found Tamhankar on the fringes of the decision-making process, especially vis-a-vis negotiating an alliance with other regional parties in Goa for the upcoming elections.

"The Shiv Sena is a big party and is power in Maharashtra and at the Centre too... When I was appointed on June 24, I was not told that there would be a coalition with other parties. I was told we would go to polls alone," he said.

Tamhankar further said that, realities for the party had changed for now, but added that his party was bending backwards to accommodate potential alliance partners, especially the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, which is currently in alliance with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

"There are those who are in coalition with BJP, how more patient can we be. We should give them a deadline. Tell them that if you want to form a good government with us, you must quit the party first," he said.

--IANS

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