Maharashtra BJP to decide on ties with Sena: Kage




New Delhi, The BJP's Maharashtra unit today said a decision on future of the alliance with Shiv Sena,

BJP Maharashtra Executive member Appasaheb Kage, a senior party leader from Maharashtra, told reporters here that the executive of the state unit would meet this month to discuss strained ties with the oldest ideological ally that broke ranks and voted for UPA-Left presidential candidate Pratibha Patil in last month's election. His comments followed Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray's talks with former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and BJP chief Rajnath Singh over phone before his party voted for NDA vice-presidential candidate Najma Heptullah.

"The NDA (at the central level) came into being six years ago but our (the BJP state unit's) ties exist since 1984. We thank them for their vote in the vice-presidential election but the state unit executive will review the alliance on its own when it meets this month," Munde, said. The BJP leader said ties with Sena became strained only when the ally decided to support Patil in Presidential poll.

"There is no immediate decision on whether we will fight (the next elections) alone or in alliance. It will be decided at our meeting," Kage said.