Mumbai, Apr 1 (PTI): The Shiv Sena would contest around 60 seats against its alliance partner, the BJP, in the next month's Assembly polls in Karnataka, party MP Sanjay Raut said in Mumbai on Sunday.
Earlier, the Sena had fielded candidates against the BJP in the elections held in Goa, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat in 2017.
"Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray had already announced that our party is going to contest elections independently and as a part of it, we have decided to go solo in Karnataka as well. We will contest around 50-60 seats but will support the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES), which represents the Marathi people living in disputed areas between Maharashtra and Karnataka," he told reporters.
In a party resolution, Thackeray had announced that Sena would contest the 2019 Assembly and Lok Sabha elections on its own without a truck with the BJP.
The Sena, the oldest member of the NDA, shares power with the BJP in the Union and Maharashtra governments.
Maharashtra has been demanding handing over of Belgaum, Karvar and around 800 villages and hamlets currently in Karnataka, claiming that they are dominated by Marathi-speaking people.
The issue, festering since 1960 when the Centre adopted Linguistic Policy for the formation of states, is pending before the supreme court.
Raut also appealed to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis not to campaign for the BJP in the disputed areas in Karnataka.
"In every speech given by Maharashtra governor, the state government mentioned resolving the issue with Karnataka. If Fadnavis campaigns in this disputed area for the BJP, it would send a wrong message in Maharashtra as this act would be perceived contradictory to the official stance of the state government on the pending issue," he said.
Raut had recently demanded Belgaum and other border areas be declared as a Union Territory.
However, his comments did not go down well with a section of people who filed a police complaint against him.
Referring to the controversy, the Rajya Sabha MP said, "I was talking in the interest of 20 lakh Marathi people who reside there".
Appealing political parties from Maharashtra to press for resolution of the Belgaum issue, the Sena leader said he was not bothered about a police case against him.
Comment on this article
pradeep, dubai
Tue, Apr 03 2018ridiculas...how come a party from maharashtra will contest in karnataka...just to defeat BJP.....DONT DO THAT .THIS WILL NOT HELP YOU TO GET THE SINGLE SEAT IN KARNATAKA.
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John Tauro, M'luru / Kwt
Mon, Apr 02 2018Shiv Sena could not even once rule their own Maharashtra without the support of BJP. Their winning in Karnataka is a distant dream. Marathis are happy in Karnataka, enjoying all rights on par with Kannadigas. Why do they create trouble by raking the border issue every now and then?
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L n T, Mumbai
Mon, Apr 02 2018Shiv Sena 60
Soda no mere water 1/2 ltr
Jai oh
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MKL, Mlore
Mon, Apr 02 2018You are welcome sir ! .But none can stop our Sidharamayya becoming CM again of our loving Kannada Nadu.
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santhu biruve, Mumbai/Udupi
Mon, Apr 02 2018It will be clear majority for BJP this time..sidramya will struggle to save his deposit this time. people will route out arrogance out of K'ta this time.
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ANIKETH, MUMBAI
Mon, Apr 02 2018Shivasena is finishing in mumbai, in gujrath too contested our media didnt say how many seats they won?
is it moral victory or?
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santhu biruve, Mumbai/Udupi
Mon, Apr 02 2018Muthalik will be kicked out of K'ta in case if he supports shivsena. It will never effect BJP votebank.
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santhu biruve, Mumbai/Udupi
Mon, Apr 02 2018At present scenario without BJP shivsena is just a big 'ZERO'
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Af,,, Mangalore
Mon, Apr 02 2018ADVANTAGE Congress.
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Dylan, Mangalore
Mon, Apr 02 2018One more pack of JOKERS coming from the slums of Mumbai. They have no chance of winning in Karnataka. We all know that the hand is strong in Karnataka and will come to power.
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Vincent Rodrigues, Bengaluru/Katapadi
Mon, Apr 02 2018Though they don't have much base in our state but they can act as a spoiler especially in the boarder of Maharashtra and Karnataka constituencies.
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SJM, Mangalore
Mon, Apr 02 2018These are back stabbers like Nitish -Hathi ke dant dekhane ke aur khane ke aur
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Stan, Udupi/Dubai
Mon, Apr 02 2018SS has no base in Karnataka. Their presence will not alter any election results as voters have already decided to reelect Congress again.
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PEDDA GUNDA, MANGALURU
Mon, Apr 02 2018What is doing this SHIVA SENA in Karnataka ! we already enough of troubles now one more new entrance !
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dominic-dsouza-Rudy, mudarangady mauritius
Mon, Apr 02 2018BJP MUKT KARNATAKA
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David Pais, Mangalore
Mon, Apr 02 2018purchased shiv sena on jumla divas.
DisAgree [8] Agree [43] Reply Report Abuse
jeevan, kudla
Mon, Apr 02 2018Good move.
If Muslim league / PFI / SDPI contest election why not Sena ???
Jai ho BJP
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Orton Cordeira, Mangalore
Mon, Apr 02 2018ಬಿಜೆಪಿ ಮತಗಳು ಚಿಂದಿ ಚಿಂದಿ
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Riyaz, Mangalore
Mon, Apr 02 2018Very good move by Shiv Sena...now no one can save BJP from defeat
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Declan, Mumbai
Mon, Apr 02 2018Shiv Sena are hell bent on getting revenge on the BJP and this move is to to split BJP votes in Karnataka. Well done Shiv Sena. Politics of opportunity being used sensibly this time to favour the Congress party.
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Arjun, Moodbidri
Mon, Apr 02 2018Who will vote for Sena in Karnataka ?
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Dinesh, Dubai
Mon, Apr 02 2018"Benkige thuppa suriudu nimma jayamanavalave" who told you bjp voter will vote shivsena.. we respect Baltackry not this chota Tackry he is like Ameti baby..
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j.anata, Mangaluru / Bengaluru
Mon, Apr 02 2018SS is nothing but more of a spoilsport with a meagre vote bank in K'Nataka. They do not have any ground support and may find difficult to field candidates or get deposits back
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Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai
Mon, Apr 02 2018If you have the guts walk out of the NDA Alliance & then fight.
This Nautanki will not work in Karnataka ...
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Nelly, Karla
Mon, Apr 02 2018We vote BJPEEE only if they ban Beef in all over in India... including the export.....Jai nonveg ....
Jaii Vomiting Show......
Jai Lodi......
Jai Na_Sha..........
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Arun Kumar, Mangalore
Mon, Apr 02 2018Without BJP, Shiv Sena is nothing. Nothing.
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