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Sena should clarify NCP stance: BJP

March 05, 2009 20:54 IST
Talking tough, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday said its alliance with the Shiv Sena for the Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra cannot proceed if the latter wants to back Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar for the prime ministerial post.

"I heard the remarks made by the Sena spokesperson that his party would support a Marathi person for the prime ministerial post. The Sena should make up its mind. They had given commitment to support L K Advani for the post," state BJP president Nitin Gadkari said.

"If there is a change in that party's policy, if this is their agenda now, the Sena-BJP alliance cannot proceed," Gadkari said.

Meanwhile, the Sena spokesperson Gadkari was referring to, Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut, said that his remarks did not imply that Sena was backing Pawar for the PM's post.

"Sena chief Bal Thackeray has often said that a Marathi person should occupy the PM's post. It is also the feeling of every Marathi individual. But this does not mean that we are backing Pawar's candidature," Raut said.

On reports that BJP had also staked claim on Mumbai South Central, Kalyan and Washim-Yavatmal Lok Sabha seats, Raut said the Sena would be contesting these seats.

BJP general secretary Gopinath Munde said seat-sharing talks between the BJP and Sena were in 'final stages'. "Let people say anything, there will be BJP-Sena alliance," he said.

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