Although some members of Raj's party supported Tapkir in by-election, MNS insiders say any pre-poll alliance with BJP not on cards
Although some members of Raj's party supported Tapkir in by-election, MNS insiders say any pre-poll alliance with BJP not on cardsu00a0
Raj Thackeray's MNS will not support the BJP-Sena alliance in the upcoming municipal elections to be held in February.
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Party sources said that although some party workers were interested in supporting the BJP candidate in the Khadakwasla bypoll, the MNS would not support the BJP-Sena alliance for the civic polls.
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BJP Khadakwasla assembly bypoll candidate Bhimrao Tapkir
and MNS chief Raj Thackeray
The issue was discussed when some of the MNS workers in Khadakwasla constituency supported BJP candidate Bhimrao Tapkir against NCP candidate Harshada Wanjale in the bypoll.
"We don't believe in pre-poll alliance. Our priority is to make the party strong and to fight the elections independently.
But if the situation impels us to make any post-poll alliance in the upcoming civic polls, BJP would not be a right choice for us," said a party insider.
A party source also said that the workers were not happy with Wanjale contesting on an NCP ticket and this was the reason they were supporting BJP's candidate.
BJP leaders in the city held the same view.
"MNS does not have any choice other than to support us in the bypoll as the party wants to stay away from Wanjale," said BJP leader Mahesh Ladkat.
"Although MNS supported us on a temporary basis in the Khadakwasla bypoll, I can not predict what the situation will be in the upcoming civic polls.
We have an alliance with Shiv Sena and the Republican Party of India and we will fight the municipal elections together."
Another BJP insider hinted that if MNS wanted to support the BJP in the civic polls, they were welcome; however; the decision about such alliances was the prerogative of senior leaders in the party.u00a0
