Devendra Fadnavis: BJP, Shiv Sena will contest 2019 Lok Sabha elections together

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said that Shiv Sena will continue its alliance with BJP and will contest the 2019 Lok Sabha election together.

Shiv Sena has an alliance with the BJP both at the centre and in Maharashtra and will continue in doing so, said Fadnavis at the ‘4 Saal Kitna Kamaal’ conclave of ‘Mumbai Manthan’.

“The Shiv Sena and the BJP would not have come together in the two governments if they had to contest separately. Those who understand politics know that no one enjoys burning his or her own house,” he was quoted as saying by India Today.

Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray had just days earlier come heavy on the saffron party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their handling of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. And talking of their constant criticism of the Modi government the Maharashtra CM said that everything in politics should not be decided by what is seen or said.

These are petty issues, said Fadnavis talking of Sena chief’s criticisms of BJP. “Just a day before yesterday [Shiv Sena chief] spoke on Hindutva. Which other parties than the BJP talks about Hindutva?” he added.

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“There is no fight between us,” he further added, reports the broadcast channel, saying that Maharashtra will give maximum votes to the NDA government. He also alleged that Congress and its allies have lost their credibility.

Fadnavis also spoke about the Ram temple in Ayodhya, which was a hot topic for debate at Shiv Sena’s Hindutva conclave.

But unlike his party president who alleged that the BJP has done nothing to construct the Ram temple, the senior leader said that the BJP has done enough for the people. “The BJP believes in democracy and the case is sub-judice,” he said alleging that the Congress, who had not given an inch of land for the construction of a memorial of BR Ambedkar at the place of his ‘parinirwan’ (death) in 15 years of their rule in Maharashtra.

“On the other hand, I went to PM Modi who cleared the land in just three days. The construction of the site is in progress.”

He also claimed that his government has taken several steps for the benefit of the farmers. “Farmers, Dalits, OBCs and Marathas are with us. We gave them land for agriculture,” added Fadnavis.

The BJP-Shiv Sena government has provided assistance of Rs 21,000 crore to the farmers in just three years, which is almost triple of the 7000 crore the Congress and the NCP government has provided in their 15 years of rule.

Fadnavis also stated that the BJP is not against Muslims and had never been. “Our government has not demolished a single mosque in Maharashtra. We will be the first ones to oppose demotion of any mosque. But the Ram temple is of the Hindus,” he said alleging that the Congress practised dual standards on the issue.