Fadnavis downplays BJP-Sena bickering, says govt will complete 5-year term

Says some bickering is bound to happen in a coalition government

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis today said that the BJP-led government in Maharashtra, which completed a year in office today, will last the five-year term, and downplayed the "bickering" with ally Shiv Sena, saying it is bound to happen in a "coalition".

Fadnavis, who had disapproved of Sena's protests against Pakistani singer Ghulam Ali, said, "I told (Sena) that there can't be different contours to denote who is patriotic.

"Did Ghulam Ali ever give a statement against India? He was scheduled to pay tributes to Jagjit Singh. If by providing him security we become Pakistanis, then does that mean that those who hosted Javed Miandad at their home, also become Pakistanis," Fadnavis said.

He was referring to Miabdad's visit to Sena founder Bal Thackeray's family residence Matoshree in Bandra in 2004.

After it was cited by NCP to attack him, Bal Thackeray had said in 2010 that the meeting was to request that Pakistan players be allowed to play in India which he "rejected".

Speaking at his official residence 'Varsha' in south Mumbai late last night after another day of war of words with Sena, Fadnavis appeared unfazed and said, "We will complete our term.

"I am confident Sena will continue to be a part of the BJP-led government despite their recent postures and we will also contest the Mumbai municipal corporation election together."

"We are two separate parties and there's a difference between their thinking and working style. We fought against each other in last year's Assembly polls but the mandate we got was against Congress-NCP," Fadnavis said but not before adding, "had we got 20-22 seats more, we would have been the only party in power."

"There will be agreement on some things and disagreement on some other items," Fadnavis said.

"There's bound to be some bickering. But both the parties understand that this is bound to happen in a coalition government," said Fadnavis, who a few hours earlier had launched a scathing attack on Sena at a civic poll rally in adjoining Thane district.

To a query on the intense verbal duel between leaders of both the parties during campaign for Kalyan Dombivli and Kolhapur civic elections scheduled tomorrow, Fadnavis said "these are local elections and won't have any bearing on state politics."

On demand by Opposition to ban right wing outfit Sanatan Sanstha after its activist was arrested in connection with Govind Pansare murder, Fadnavis said, "We will certainly ban it if credible and required evidence is found against the organisation."