Mumbai, Oct 09: Asserting that all "misunderstanding"
between the BJP and the Shiv Sena were now cleared,
Maharashtra BJP president Nitin Gadkari on Monday said the two
parties would focus on strengthening their alliance for the
upcoming Mumbai civic polls.
The saffron parties` 22-year-old alliance had come on the
verge of collapse last week with both Sena and BJP staking
claim to the seat in the forthcoming Chimur assembly
by-election.
"All misunderstandings have now been cleared between us
and the Sena. On the Chimur issue, we had already taken a
decision about the seat much before this. We apprised
Balasaheb about the ground situation in Chimur and even at our
meeting with Uddhav earlier, we had told them there was no
reason for any misunderstanding," Gadkari told reporter here.
When asked about the harsh criticism about him in the
Sena mouthpiece "Saamna" recently, Gadkari said "The report
was based on wrong information. "Saamna" is part of our family
and I forgive them. I did feel bad about it, but the alliance
is above all else."
Gadkari also parried questions that his own post as party
president was in danger, saying "There is no such move to
replace me as party president in Maharashtra. I am still
holding the post and if you (the press) know of any such
thing, please go ahead and print it, I have no problem."
"I did not go for the meeting with Thackeray because I
was stuck with some personal work in Nagpur. Munde and other
party leaders were in constant consultation with me and
whatever happened at the meeting happened with my knowledge,"
he added.
Bureau Report
