The induction of five former Shiv Sena (UBT) corporators into the BJP has started to create friction with their alliance partner, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
Last week, five Shiv Sena (UBT) corporators Vishal Dhanawade, Bala Oswal, Sangeeta Thosar, Pallavi Jawale and Prachi Alhat joined the BJP saying that the Shiv Sena (UBT) had been losing out on the Hindutva front by joining hands with Congress.
“We have decided to not speak against our previous political party as it had given us an identity. However, the BJP is implementing the Hindutva agenda, so we decided to join it over other parties, including the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena,” said Oswal.
Speaking on the tussle of who owns Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray’s legacy, Dhanawade said, “The fight for who owns the Shiv Sena is in court, but we feel the party led by Uddhav Thackeray is the real Shiv Sena and not the one led by Shinde.”
However, this has not gone down well with the Pune city unit of the Shinde-led Shiv Sena. “The BJP should pull up its new members. These former corporators of Shiv Sena (UBT) should first be told which political party they have joined,” said city Shiv Sena spokesperson Abhijit Borate.
“If these new BJP members dont mind their business then the Shiv Sena too will take them on for any statement they might make against the party,” he said.
Pune city Shiv Sena chief Pramod Bhagire had said that the BJP and Shiv Sena are in alliance and that seat sharing for the forthcoming civic polls will be as per the usual arrangement. “The Shiv Sena had won the five seats represented by the former Shiv Sena (UBT) corporators who had joined the BJP. We will contest the five seats for sure,” he said.
Incidentally, the five former Shiv Sena corporators have confidence that they will be given a BJP ticket from their respective seats in civic polls.”We have been assured of due respect by the BJP. We will abide by the decision of the party leadership,” said Dhanawade.
Unrest has been brewing within the local BJP, as aspiring candidates have opposed the move to induct former Shiv Sena (UBT) corporators. “I am confident that there will be no issue in our acceptance by local leaders. We believe in the same ideology and leadership,” said Pallavi Jawale.
BJP leader Punit Joshi said the former Shiv Sena (UBT) corporators are new to BJP and will soon learn the discipline of the party.
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