Narendra Modi rallies put a question mark on his wave: Uddhav
Thackeray also said he still could not fathom what prompted the BJP to unilaterally snap its 25-year-old alliance with the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra on September 25.
Days after the alliance break-up, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday questioned the rationale behind the many rallies the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has planned in Maharashtra, to be addressed by Narendra Modi.
Thackeray wonders why the former ally has felt the need for holding "so many" election rallies by the prime minister, asking if the "wave" really exists.
"They say that there is a 'Modi wave' in the state. This is not Gujarat. If there is indeed such a wave, then why the BJP has planned so many rallies by the prime minister for the state elections?" Thackeray told reporters.
However, clarifying that he held no grudges against Modi, Thackeray said it was surprising the state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was inviting the prime minister for so many rallies for the October 15 elections to the Maharashtra Assembly.
It is not yet clear how many rallies Modi will address, with estimates ranging from four to 22.
Uddhav also said he still could not fathom what prompted the BJP to unilaterally snap its 25-year-old alliance with the Shiv Sena on September 25.
"We never broke it. We were keen to continue the alliance, but they suddenly snapped it. I have yet to know why. We shall present the facts before the people of the state," IANS quoted Thackeray as declaring.
On his flip-flop on the issue of withdrawing the Sena's sole cabinet Minister Anant Geete from the Modi ministry, Thackeray clarified that the party was not interested in sticking to any central position.
"I had made it clear that he would resign after the PM returns from his foreign tour. We would also discuss with Modi what went wrong and why the alliance was snapped," Thackeray said.
On Monday, Uddhav declared that Geete would quit the Cabinet post, but a day later backtracked stating that more discussions are required before any decision is taken since BJP-Shiv Sena MPs were elected by the united efforts of both parties in the May 2014 Lok Sabha elections.