Mumbai:
As the BJP put off its decision on government formation in Maharashtra till after the Diwali festival on Thursday, its former partner Shiv Sena today tore into Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party or NCP, which has emerged as its rival for a place in a possible ruling coalition.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who is to lead consultations with state leaders on an alliance and a chief ministerial candidate, said today, "I will visit Maharashtra after Diwali."
In a sharp editorial in its mouthpiece Saamna targeting the NCP, the Sena had a message for the BJP.
"Until yesterday, the BJP was a communal force and was mocked as a party of "khaki short wearing" people by the NCP. Are they now really concerned about providing stability to Maharashtra? Their overnight somersault is driven by selfish intentions. Scam-tainted parties and leaders are trying to whitewash their image by aligning with the 'rising sun'... that won't help clean the muck they have on them," the editorial said.
"All we can hope and pray for is Maharashtra's future doesn't get sullied by these tainted elements. As for the rest, each one is free to take own decision," said the Sena.
It reminded the BJP that even Prime Minister Narendra Modi had campaigned extensively against the NCP and called it a "Naturally Corrupt Party".
The BJP contested alone in Maharashtra after ending its 25-year alliance with the Sena last month and has won 123 seats but it needs 22 more to form the government. The Sena, which has won 63 seats, could have exploited that gap, but the NCP has played spoiler by offering external support.
The BJP has not rejected the NCP's offer and is making the Sena sweat. Arun Jaitley and Nitin Gadkari are among the leaders who are holding consultations on Maharashtra as the BJP weighs its options.
Sources say the BJP is taking its time as it wants the Sena back on board without conditions. Top leaders in the party say that while the Sena is seen as a "natural fit" as an alliance partner, it must accept that it has little bargaining power to ask for posts like deputy chief minister.
Since their divorce, the parties last connected on Sunday evening, when Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray reportedly spoke on the phone to PM Modi and BJP president Amit Shah and suggested that it was time to look forward. The PM agreed, said Sena sources.