MNS should explain stand on 'controversial' issues before tie up with it is considered: Ashok Chavan

The Congress' Maharashtra unit chief Ashok Chavan said today that the MNS will have to explain its position on certain controversial issues before any political alignment with the Raj Thackeray-led party can be considered.

Chavan's comments comes a day after Thackeray called for opposition unity and a Modi-free India by 2019.

The former Maharashtra chief minister, however, clarified that there is no discussion inside the Congress on Thackeray's idea and that there was no proposal in this connection before it.

The position of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on certain issues is controversial. It will have to explain those before any tie up with it is given a thought to," he said.

There is no discussion inside the Congress on the alliance issue and that there is no proposal in this connection before it, he told reporters at All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters here.

Chavan did not specify the issues which he said were controversial. The issue of sons-of-the-soil is close to the MNS and the party is often criticised for its alleged anti-north Indian stance.

He also ruled out any possibility of the Congress aligning with the Shiv Sena, contending there are differences in the ideologies of the two.

The ideology (of any party) should match to that of the Congress or there has to be some common ideology platform. And it is clear the Shiv Sena cannot be on that platform, he added.

Addressing a rally of MNS workers at Shivaji Park in central Mumbai, Thackeray had yesterday said, "The country is fed up with the false promises made by (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi and his government."