Ally Shiv Sena unimpressed with BJP's performance in election results, says just "opening an account" in two states not enough
Highlights
- BJP won Assam and made in-roads in Kerala and West Bengal
- Couldn't defeat Jayalalithaa, Mamata Banerjee or the Left, says Shiv Sena
- Shiv Sena is a part of the Maharashtra government as well as the Centre
Even after scoring in the state elections, the ruling BJP can't catch a break from its oldest but most fault-finding ally, the Shiv Sena.
"The Modi magic has not worked. It is unfortunate but the BJP hasn't achieved great success in these states," the Sena has said in its mouthpiece Saamna.
The BJP won Assam and made in-roads in Kerala and West Bengal in results Thursday that heartened the party after its debacle in Bihar in November.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it is a sign that the "BJP's ideology is being accepted, appreciated, supported by people of the country".
The Sena, the BJP's partner in Maharashtra and also in the Central government, is far from impressed.
"The BJP defeated the Congress in Assam but couldn't defeat Jayalalithaa, Mamata Banerjee or the Left. We must accept the truth that the BJP couldn't defeat regional parties," said the Sena.
Acknowledging that the "thorn of the Bihar loss that had entered deep is now out", the party, however, stressed that just "opening an account" in two states was not enough.
"Corruption, terrorism, hooliganism had all increased and a Mamata-Mukt Bengal was needed. But Bengalis have the rasgulla of victory only to Mamata. If opening their account in Bengal was the only goal, then PM, Amit Shah and top party leaders wouldn't have campaigned," it said.
The Sena also quipped: "In Kerala, the acche din for BJP was to just open their account."
Ever since it had to settle for junior status after state elections in Maharashtra in 2014, the Sena has missed no opportunity to attack its partner publicly.