Munde’s ‘SOS’ to Raj: BJP mum

MUMBAI: The state BJP has refrained from commenting on Raj Thackeray’s statement that senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde sought the MNS support for himself in the Lok Sabha election in the Beed constituency in Marathwada.
The Shiv Sena is flummoxed by the BJP’s silence on Thackeray’s claim, sources said on Thursday. There was no official statement from the Sena either on the issue which, say observers, shows the fault-lines in the Sena-BJP alliance.
Addressing a poll rally in Jogeshwari on Wednesday, Raj Thackeray spoke about how Munde put six calls to him, seeking the MNS support in Beed where the ace BJP leader is locked in a fierce poll combat with NCP’s Suresh Dhas.
MNS MLA Pravin Darekar told TOI on the sidelines of Raj’s conclave: “Munde has been saying all these days that there was no need for the Sena-BJP to have a poll tie-up with the MNS as it would make the Sena angry in view of the strained equations between Uddhav Thackeray and Rajsaheb. Munde threw his weight behind Uddhav Thackeray when the latter was upset with Nitin Gadkarisaheb meeting Rajsaheb for a poll understanding to avoid a split in the anti-incumbency votes. Now, ironically, Munde asks for support from the MNS.”
“There is no need for us to comment on the issue. Everything is fair in love, war and elections,” said a senior BJP functionary, adding, “Winning maximum seats is our chief aim. Nothing wrong if Munde thinks MNS can be of help in Beed.”
Meanwhile, Raj on Thursday said there was no need to harp on the 2002 Godhra carnage. “Let’s put the past behind us,” he told a news channel. Asked if he shared the sentiments of a large section that wanted Narendra Modi to offer apologies for the carnage, he said it was for Modi to decide.