One call and Sena’s back with BJP

The BJP and the Shiv Sena buried the hatchet late on Monday night after BJP president Rajnath Singh called up Shiv Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray and the two leaders made it up in the course of a long conversation.

The BJP and the Shiv Sena buried the hatchet late on Monday night after BJP president Rajnath Singh called up Shiv Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray and the two leaders made it up in the course of a long conversation.

According to sources, Singh told Thackeray: “We are old allies and we are not going to part with you.”

Uddhav, reportedly replied, “But, your people in Maharashtra are saying something else.” In an apparent reference to BJP general secretary Gopinath Munde and Maharashtra BJP president Nitin Gadkari, he said: “They are talking of a decision about the Shiv Sena after July 19. Have you talked to them as well?” he asked sarcastically.

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Uddhav also drew the BJP chief’s attention to the August 15 deadline set by Maharashtra BJP leaders for a “decision” on BJP-Sena ties and Gadkari’s talk of BJP contesting the next Assembly elections in Maharashtra on its own.

“Mujhe sab khabar hai,” Rajnath Singh reportedly told Uddhav in response and sought to downplay the issue by laughing it away.

As the two leaders concluded their talk, Uddhav made it clear to the BJP president that “there is no problem as far as the Sena is concerned”.

When reached for comments, Sena General Secretary and Saamana executive editor Sanjay Raut told The Indian Express, “Everything has blown over and we have no problem working together with the BJP.”