Wooing Shiv Sena? BJP's Maharashtra chief Fadnavis says "it has always been our friend"

As the BJP looks like it could fall short of an absolute majority in Maharashtra, the party’s state unit chief Devendra Fadnavis says that the party was more inclined towards forming an alliance with the Shiv Sena in the state as they have never been political opponents. “It was an alliance of ideology. Breaking up with them hurt us deep in our heart,” he said. He maintained that the BJP wasn’t opposed to reaching out to the Shiv Sena to form the next government in the state and they had merely made the most of the opportunity that the breaking of the alliance had provided them. [caption id=“attachment_1763367” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Fadnavis refused to rule out an alliance with the Sena.[/caption] “Shiv Sena is not our political opponent. It has always been our friend and they are with us at the Centre also. It is not our enemy,” he said. Fadnavis gave all the credit for the party’s performance to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Ultimately it is Modiji’s charisma that has worked,” Fadnavis said, giving additional credit to party chief Amit Shah. He refused to comment on the possibility of him becoming the next chief minister. “I am president of BJP Maharashtra,” he said, adding that he had no indications of being the next chief minister of the state. While he refused to further his cause for the chief ministerial seat, Fadnavis didn’t exactly spurn it either. “I have not shied away from any responsibility and whoever the party chooses I am behind him,” Fadnavis said. He also attempted to lay to rest the controversy surrounding Pankaja Munde’s recent statements on being a chief ministerial candidate. “The party decides who should lead and Pankaja called me and said she was quoted out of context,” Fadnavis said. However, he didn’t seem to think she really stood any chance of being the next chief minister. “She is our leader and has been doing hard work. We feel she is a leader who can be groomed,” he said.