We 'wasted' 25 years in alliance with BJP, says Uddhav Thackeray

Sena chief,however, maintained that he would never blackmail or backstab the ally

Sharpening his attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday rued his party "wasted" 25 years being in alliance with it while asserting that his outfit will come out of the government the moment it feels being disregarded.

The Sena chief, in the third and final part of his interview to the party mouthpiece Saamana, however, maintained that he would never blackmail or backstab the ally.

"In last June, we completed 50 years since our advent and half the time, which means 25 years, we were in alliance with the BJP. It is a long time and we grew up by holding hands of each other. The way certain things unfolded, including breaking up of alliance in previous assembly elections, now I feel that we wasted all these 25 years being in alliance and these years got rotten," Thackeray said.

However, the Sena chief said he was in touch with the Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and recently they had food together at 'Matoshree' — Uddhav's residence in Bandra.

"In those days, the base of our alliance was Hindutva, but now we need to work out what is the base of this alliance right now. Rest, I am in touch with the Chief minister who is new, but I am closely monitoring his commitment and restless efforts, and I wish him to do well in future," said Thackeray, who turns 56 on Wednesday.

To a question why he and his party keeps on alleging against the government despite being a part of it, he said, "This is why I lay stress on working on the fundamentals of our alliance and make them clear once again. Shiv Sena has never slapped baseless and wild accusations and neither it made personal comments."

On why the present government was "disregarding" ally Sena, the leader said there are elements trying to create an atmosphere of uncertainty.

"Yes, off course, there is uncertainty and those are frenemies. Some are seen and some are disguised. It happens with everyone. But I am not like that. The moment I feel that me and my party are not getting proper treatment, I will not be in power. But I will never blackmail the government. I will speak out, but never backstab," said Thackeray.