BJP remains non-committal on enlisting Sena support

As initial trends showed Bharatiya Janata Party emerging as the largest party in Maharashtra but falling short of a majority, its state president Devendra Fadnavis remained non-committal on whether it would seek support of former ally Shiv Sena in forming the government.

He, however, said BJP never considered Sena a political opponent. “I will not answer a hypothetical question,” he said when asked if BJP will try to enlist Sena’s support.

“Shiv Sena has never been our political opponent. We have never said anything against them, we never criticised them in our campaign,” Fadnavis said as trends showed BJP will have to look for allies to form the first-ever government led by the party in Maharashtra.

He, however, said, “The way they criticised us, the way they spoke against our leaders, we were deeply hurt.”

Image: President of Maharashtra state unit of BJP speaks to TV reporters as he heads to the party's headquarters. Photograph: Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff.com