Pune: In a discreet reference to current uneasy relationship between his party and BJP, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray has asked the BJP leadership to be pliable in order to maintain unity of the over two-decade-long saffron alliance to realise its dream of making L K Advani the country's Prime Minister.
Thackeray, who is expected to be discharged from Lilavati hospital soon, apparently drew parallels between the state of affairs in Maharashtra and outside states as he said,
"I feel worried as I read reports of cracks in the NDA. In Bihar and Orissa, BJP seems to be at loggerheads with Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal(U) and Biju Janata Dal respectively over the seat sharing understanding."
While underlining the importance of keeping Shiv Sena-BJP alliance in Maharashtra intact, Thackeray in the party mouthpiece 'Saamana' today advised the BJP leadership to "retain old friends and make new ones" to brighten the prospects of their Prime Ministerial candidate L K Advani.
In an oblique reference to the impasse between the Saffron alliance over allotment of certain Lok Sabha seats in the state, Thackeray said, "We are not eyeing Prime Ministership or the state Chief Ministership. Those who have set their sights on top posts, should show a greater spirit of
accommodation."
Thackeray recalled the sacrifice Shiv Sena made to save the NDA government under Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Making a mention of Kalyan Lok Sabha constituency, which has become contentious in the seat sharing parleys between the Saffron partners, the Sena Chief said monopolizing certain "Subhas" (regions) could prove detrimental to broad national cause.
Thackeray also had a dig at NCP President Sharad Pawar saying Home Minister Chidambaram had put the Union Agriculture minister in a quandary over the issue of security to IPL and this could cost Pawar his "wicket".
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