Raj and Uddhav should come together, says BJP

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Gopinath Munde on Monday said estranged Thackeray cousins - Uddhav and Raj - should come together to strengthen the Opposition in Maharashtra.

"Both Uddhav and Raj should come together. If they do so it would help the opposition in the state, which will be strengthened," Munde told reporters on the sidelines of a function in Aurangabad.

Asked whether he would try to bring the brothers together, Munde said, "There is no question of that."

The BJP leader sought the resignation of minister of State for Home Ramesh Bagwe, saying that a person with criminal background should not hold office in the Cabinet.

"Any person with criminal offences against him has no right to function as a minister in the Cabinet and not at all the ministry, Bagwe is heading. He should resign on his own," Munde said.

"Nineteen cases are pending against him and the ministry he is heading is for maintaining law and order in the state. I sincerely feel that Bagwe should resign," he added.