Maharashtra parties fret over post poll alliances due to sour relations

Sena calls BJP enemy no 1, Congress blames NCP for breaking 15-year-old alliance

Even as Maharashtra gears up to vote, major political parties and senior politicians admit that the bitterness between rivals has taken such deep roots that post-poll alliance would be a difficult affair. The BJP on Tuesday declared that it would get an absolute majority and a possible alliance with former ally Shiv Sena was irrelevant as of now. The Sena, too, ruled out any agreement after the election, calling the estranged friend their enemy number one.

Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray had attacked the BJP for its “betrayal and back-stabbing” after the party severed their ties. He also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his team for devoting too much attention to a state assembly election instead of focusing on national security.

Uddhav’s son and Shiv Sena youth wing chief Aditya Thackeray said there was no question of striking a post-poll alliance with the BJP.

Both Uddhav and Aditya alleged that the BJP was pursuing a ploy to reduce the importance of regional and smaller parties. BJP president Amit Shah, on the other hand, compared the Shiv Sena to a rat. Uddhav rejoined by reminding the BJP that it grew in Maharashtra with Shiv Sena’s help.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed to the voters to give a complete majority to the BJP to provide a strong and stable government and thereby end coalition politics in Maharashtra.

The relationship between the Congress and its former friend the NCP has also soured beyond repair, ruling out any reconciliation.  The Congress has blamed the NCP for breaking the 15-year-old alliance. Former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan has targeted his former deputy Ajit Pawar, alleging that the latter’s ambition to become the chief minister led to the split.

State Congress president Manikrao Thakre hoped that the party would be in a position to form the government for the fourth time in succession. Thakre told Business Standard: “Congress has not given any thought on a post-poll alliance with the NCP.”

The NCP, too, does not seem too keen to repair the relationship. Its president, Sharad Pawar, said his party is concentrating on winning a majority and forming the government. “Post-poll alliance with the Congress is not under NCP’s consideration at this point of time,” he said.

Pawar and his nephew, former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, have put the onus on the Congress for breaking the alliance. They also criticised Prithviraj Chavan for police paralysis, and said that Chavan should have taken quick decisions as soon as he took over in November 2010 instead of clearing crucial files before the announcement of the assembly poll. Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, too, is going solo this time.

Raj admitted yesterday that he had forwarded his hand for a pre-poll alliance with his estranged cousin and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav.

However, he said, the alliance could not be formed because of a lukewarm response from Uddhav. Raj said time will decide on an alliance between them.