Mumbai:
Famous for his daring outbursts, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray gave the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in Maharashtra a scare when he visited the BJP office in Mumbai on Monday.
The visit irked Shiv Sena which asked its alliance partner to explain why Raj Thackeray came to the BJP office. Sena has even threatened to abstain from the December 22 NDA rally.
The BJP leadership of Maharashtra has, meanwhile, gone for a damage control who termed it as a "courtesy visit".
"Raj Thackeray had a public meeting right outside the BJP office in Mumbai. He walked in our office for a tea which our state president offered him as a courtesy," a BJP statement said.
The party also reiterated that their alliance with Shiv Sena is old and lasting.