DNA
 
Mumbai, Mar 21: One popular story that every political observer discusses animatedly is how Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray and NCP chief Sharad Pawar are friends outside Mumbai and foes within.

The political equation that the two sworn rivals have struck after the recent Pune mayoral elections, has apparently broken these barriers too.

Having often taken potshots and barbs at the NCP leader in the past, interspersed with affectionate advices, Thackeray has decided to officially cosy up to the latter saying, “that an alliance with the NCP will be a good augury for Maharashtra.”

The possibility of an alliance between the NCP and Shiv Sena resurfaced on Tuesday. “I have said it in the past and am saying it again that an alliance between the two parties would be in the interest of the state’s development,” Thackeray told reporters at his residence ‘Matoshree’ here.

Stating that Pawar was “an old friend”, Thackeray said, “I had earlier announced that Sena would support his candidature for the Prime Minister’s post. But, Pawar has never taken a clear stand.”

Thackeray had hinted at the possibility of an alliance through an editorial in the Sena mouthpiece Saamna rather regularly and had also expressed a similar view at the launch of his photo-biography in 2005, during which Pawar too was present. Asked about the Sena’s alliance with the NCP in the recent mayoral elections in Pune Municipal Corporation, Thackeray said, “The two parties together can do a lot together.” Thackeray was speaking to reporters after releasing a book on a Marathi poet and lyricist Jagdish Khebudkar.

In Pune Municipal Corporation Mayoral election, NCP’s senior leader Ajit Pawar joined hands with the Sena to thwart the attempts of Congress MP and senior leader Suresh Kalmadi. In return, the NCP in the Nashik mayoral election chose not to tie up with the Congress, thus facilitating an easy win for the Sena. Earlier on Saturday, the NCP chief Sharad Pawar said in Baramati that his party was open to alliances with any party, including the Shiv Sena.

However, the ground realities looked contrary. Thackeray’s remarks come in the wake of clashes between Sena and NCP workers in Navi Mumbai on Tuesday morning, when eight rebel Sena corporators supported the NCP in the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation.

Admitting to Shiv Sena—Congress alliance in many local bodies, Thackeray said, “Local activists are beginning to consider themselves as leaders. I will seek an explanation in this matter.”

“Anything goes in politics. Both parties have Congress as their common enemy. Both Pawar and the Sena are opposed to Sonia Gandhi, therefore the alliance,” said Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut.