Opposition unity has rattled BJP, says Raju Shetti

The growing Opposition unity has rattled the BJP and is a good sign of a healthy political system, veteran farmers leader Raju Shetti said.

"It is evident," said Shetti, adding that this was the precise reason BJP president Amit Shah had to fly down from New Delhi and have a meeting with Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray.

Shetti, an MP from Hatkanangle constituency in Maharashtra, was earlier part of the BJP-led NDA.

The Swabhimani Paksha leader said: "Meeting (Shiv Sena and BJP) is fine, but will both of them change their behaviour?"

Shetti, who may be part of a Congress-led Opposition or what is now being described as Opposition unity, lauded Congress president Rahul Gandhi for speaking on farmers issue.

To a specific question about his role vis-a-vis the Opposition unity in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Shetti said: "Opposition unity is good, if change happens it is good....we are largely looking at the issues of farmers and common man...we have to see what they are saying about farmers."

Commenting on the BJP-led NDA government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shetti said: "They have messed up with farmers issues...there has not been any sea change on the ground as promised....farmers' suicides are still happening."

Of late, Shetti has been seen hob-nobbing with the Congress and Opposition leaders though he has been non-committal about his political course in the near future.