Former Pak minister KM Kasuri and columnist Sudheendra Kulkarni at Mr Kasuri's book launch event in Mumbai (PTI photo)
Hours after Maharashtra Chief Minister
Devendra Fadnavis taunted the Shiv Sena of bringing the state a bad name with their protests against former Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri's book launch in Mumbai, sources have told NDTV the Shiv Sena has broken their alliance with the BJP for the upcoming Kalyan Dombivali civic polls.
Kalyan and Dombivali are satellite cities adjacent to Mumbai and their municipal corporation is currently run by the Sena-BJP alliance.
Sources say the Shiv Sena will contest all 122 seats alone. Elections are to be held on November 1.
The Shiv Sena and the BJP, which co-govern Maharashtra, were pitted against each other over the launch of Mr Kasuri's book "Neither a Hawk, Nor a Dove: An Insider Account of Pakistan's Foreign Policy".
The Sena had opposed the launch in Mumbai saying there should be no engagement with Pakistan as long as it supports terror attacks on Indian soil.
On Monday morning, over a dozen Shiv Sena members threw black paint at former BJP adviser and columnist Sudheendra Kulkarni, who was the organiser of the event where Mr Kasuri's book was launched.
Six Sena workers have been arrested for that attack.
The
Sena was hit by waves of condemnation over the attack on Mr Kulkarni.
Mr Fadnavis, disapproving of the Sena's protests, said on Monday evening that it had brought disrepute to the state.
"We cannot endorse Mr Kasuri, but can't let our state turn into banana republic. The rule of law has prevailed. I think the way things have happened has brought a bad name to our state. There could have been better ways to put forth a point of view," he had said.
Mr Kasuri's book was finally launched on Monday evening amid heavy security.