Uddhav should apologise for anti-Modi remarks: BJP salts Shiv Sena's wounds

Mumbai: A day after Devendra Fadnavis was annointed Chief Minister-designate of Maharashtra, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray today went into a huddle with top party leaders to discuss the future course of action as the BJP demanded that Uddhav should apologise for his comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah. A top BJP leader said no talks were underway with Sena and would resume only after the new government was sworn in on Friday. While both sides had yesterday struck a conciliatory note after Fadnavis was elected BJP Legislature Party leader, a report in the Indian Express said that the BJP now wants Sena to apologise for the comments in the run up to the polls. [caption id=“attachment_1703813” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Uddhav Thackeray and PM Narendra Modi: AFP[/caption] “The BJP-Sena alliance is a foregone conclusion. It is just a matter of time. But we want to convey our displeasure over their remarks against the Prime Minister and Amit Shah. They will have to apologise,” the report quotes a union minister without naming the person in question. In the run up to the polls, Uddhav while campaigning in Tuljapur had called BJP leaders “Afzal Khan’s aulad” sparking fury. “What are they up to? First Modi comes to campaign, then his entire cabinet team campaigns for votes in Maharashtra. They are like Afzal Khan’s aulad, trying to conquer this state,” he had said. The report claims that the apology, public or private, since the BJP doesn’t mind either way, isn’t the only thing the Sena must give up. The leadership has also demanded that Sena unconditionally support the BJP-led government in Maharashtra. Meanwhile, Uddhav remained holed up with senior party leaders Subhash Desai, Anil Desai and Vinayak Raut as talks on the future of the party continued at his residence Matoshree. “Discussions are on within the party. Uddhav_ji_ will take a final call (on whether to join the BJP-led ministry),” Neelam Gorhe, Sena spokesperson, told reporters. The first two were involved in back channel talks with BJP leaders in Delhi. A top central BJP leader, when asked if there was any breakthrough in discussions with Sena on the latter’s joining the government, said talks would resume only after the oath- taking ceremony on October 31. “No talks (with Shiv Sena) are currently underway. Our whole focus is on making October 31 a grand success. We will resume talks only post that,” he told PTI, speaking on the condition of anonymity. Both parties had yesterday shown signs of a rapprochement with Shiv Sena MP and spokesman Sanjay Raut saying, “The blood group of BJP and Shiv Sena is the same.” He had rubbished media reports that Sena was demanding deputy chief minister’s post and some key portfolios as pre-condition for a reunion between the former saffron allies. Newly-appointed BJP general secretary in-charge of the state J P Nadda too indicated that the former allies could reunite when he said, “We want that Sena come with us. It is our desire. A positive result will emerge soon.” Uddhav had on Saturday skipped the inauguration of a renovated private hospital by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mumbai. Though Sena’s Rajya Sabha MP Anil Desai had claimed Uddhav did not attend the function on account of ‘Bhai Dooj’ festival, media reports said he gave the event a miss to avoid meeting Modi. All eyes will now be on the inauguration of Devendra Fadnavis government on Friday where a meeting between Modi and Uddhav could set the stage for the return of a BJP-Sena coalition dispensation in Maharashtra after 15 years. What remains to be seen is whether BJP will gets its pound of flesh. With inputs from PTI