Modi calls up Uddhav on ties with BJP

Narendra Modi on Tuesday night spoke to Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, who is cut up over BJP’s recent overtures to his estranged cousin and MNS chief Raj Thackeray, and is understood to have assured him that the 25-year-old Sena-BJP alliance is intact.

Modi’s phone call came after senior BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy met Uddhav here in the evening.

 Earlier in the day, state BJP president Devendra Fadnavis held a meeting with the Sena leader to quash all rumours indicating that the BJP was trying to woo the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).

In a press meet on Tuesday afternoon, Uddhav alleged that bete noire and MNS chief Raj Thackeray was trying to capitalise on BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's name.

After slamming Raj for trying to deliberately “mislead people by publicly extending support to Modi”, Uddhav  caustically asked the BJP whether they “are following the path of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal”.

In a hastily-called press conference following reports that BJP leader Nitin Gadkari was desperately trying to woo the MNS chief, requesting him to field candidates, as it would only lead to a vote-bank split, followed by Raj publicly stating that the MNS would support Modi “in larger national interest”, Uddhav questioned the BJP leadership.

He said: “The BJP should clarify who is authorised in Maharashtra BJP to take decisions. Is it Gadkari, who goes around talking to the media, or Munde? The BJP at present seems to be following the path of AAP leader Kejriwal who, after damning the Congress, formed a government with its support in Delhi.”

Sharpening its attack on the BJP further, the SS leader cited the example of former prime minister Chandrashekhar, who took support of Rajiv Gandhi.