Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut Hints at Allies’ Strained Ties With BJP

“Gradually their grudges will spill out and eventually they’ll walk out of alliance,” said Sanjay Raut.

A day after the Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party (TDP), a key ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party, threatened to break ties with the National Democratic Alliance government at the Centre, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, on Wednesday, 7 March, said it was an “expected” move and allies no longer hold good relations with the BJP, ANI reported.

The latest developments came after the Modi government ruled out Special Category Status for Andhra Pradesh. However, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley pacified the lawmakers by announcing a special package for the state instead.

Shiv Sena had expected this. Other parties have walked out of the NDA too. Allies no longer have good relations with the BJP. Gradually, their grudges will spill out and eventually they’ll walk out of the alliance.

Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena MP, to ANI

“It was predictable from the Naidu government’s working style that it will not stay in alliance with the NDA like we have said in the past. Our 2019 fight will be alone,” the MP said.

Raut stated that Shiv Sena has been the oldest party with the NDA and has always brought forward their concerns, if not their disenchantment. Smaller parties like Majhi have also broken ties with the party, Raut added.

“Practically, everyone will come out of NDA.”

Even before the TDP-NDA fallout, Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray had clarified his stance, said party leader Manisha Kayande. The leader signalled that the road to 2019 would be a tough one for the BJP.

Even before the TDP, Uddhavji had clarified his stance. Two ministers from the TDP are about to resign. The BJP should’ve thought about it. Former NDA leaders had kept the alliance together. Now it’s overconfident. 2019 will be challenging for the BJP.

Manisha Kayande, leader, Shiv Sena, to ANI

In protest against the refusal and “unavailability of the PM” to discuss the matter, BJP ministers in the Andhra Pradesh Cabinet, K Srinivasa Rao and T Manikyala Rao, submitted their resignation in the CMO in Amaravati on Thursday, 8 March.

Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Minister of State for Science and Technology YS Chowdary will tender their resignations as well, the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister said, reported ANI.

In a scathing attack at the Centre, Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury said pulling out the two ministers does not send a strong message. She told ANI, “What crisis? This is like match fixing. They are still pretending to withdraw (from the alliance). What would happen if two ministers resign? If you are serious then do it seriously.”

(With inputs from ANI)