BJP leader Gopinath Munde said on Sunday that his party’s alliance with the Shiv Sena will remain intact at the state and national level.
Reacting to speculation over possible understanding between the BJP, NCP and MNS, Mr Munde said the coming together of the three parties for election here was a political exigency confined to Pune.
BJP candidate Ganesh Bidkar was elected chairman of the standing committee of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Saturday with support from NCP and MNS, inflicting a humiliating defeat on Shankar Pawar, Congress candidate backed by the Suresh Kalmadi-led group in the civic body.
The election was preceded by squabbles between the BJP and its ally Shiv Sena over the candidature of Mr Bidkar. Shiv Sena members were directed by the party to abstain from voting as BJP leadership had not consulted them before fielding Mr Bidkar for the prestigious post, Shiv Sena spokesperson Neelam Gorhe said.