Sena warns BJP of a new Mahabharata
After the Janata Dal (United) expressed its opposition to attempts to project Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi as the NDA’s prime ministerial candidate, the Shiv Sena, too, has indicated it is not enthusiastic about the Gujarat CM being projected as the alliance’s candidate for PM, although for different reasons. While Bihar CM and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar expressed concern about Mr Modi’s “communal” image, the Shiv Sena is of the opinion that Mr Modi does not back Hindus strongly enough.
In an editorial published in the Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana, the party demanded that a meeting of NDA allies be convened to finalise the PM candidate. “The BJP has the right to name its PM candidate, but it cannot do so on its own steam. This (NDA) is Arjuna’s chariot and has many horses. Every horse is important. Or else there will be a different Mahabharata and the chariot wheel will get stuck,” the party said. The Saamana editorial, in a veiled reference to Mr Modi, said that by declaring someone’s candidature there may be an increase of five to 10 seats, but the allies would go away and this would result in the loss of more seats. “There is no guarantee of getting a majority. There is no certainty of winning satta sundari. But many people are promoting multiple names for the PM’s post. The time has come for somebody to tell them that electing India’s PM is not a mass marriage ceremony. All parties in the NDA will have to sit together and take the decision,” the Sena said.
“The riots in Gujarat would have happened after the Sabarmati Express was burnt even if the Gujarat CM was Keshubhai Patel or Shankarsinh Vaghela. It was a reaction of Hindus... There is no record to show that Mr Modi has ever accepted responsibility for the Hindu aggression,” the Sena said. Comparing Mr Modi to the late Sena chief Bal Thackeray, the editorial said Bal Thackeray accepted responsibility for the Babri Masjid demolition and “provided strength to Hindus”. The Sena also criticised Mr Nitish Kumar, saying his opposition to Mr Modi’s candidature is because his politics is based on the Muslim vote bank.
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