Mumbai: A day after it emerged the party with the second largest number of seats in Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena questioned whether voters were happy with the split verdict and also said that despite the claims of the BJP, there was no Modi wave that had affected the outcome in the state.
The party said it was generous enough to offer their heartfelt congratulations to the BJP and those victorious, but added that if the entire state’s dream wasn’t going to come true then this electoral verdict could prove detrimental.
“Are you happy with the verdict you have given? Are you satisfied?” the editorial asked its readers.
Saying that they weren’t thrilled about the verdict or crushed by it, the party said that Maharashtra was facing instability constantly which was saddening.
“No one has given a clear ‘call’ to any one but we congratulate those who are blowing their trumpets in celebration,” the editorial said, adding that the Shiv Sena would continue to serve the state of Maharashtra.
The party said that despite having to contest the polls alone facing competition from the BJP, Congress and NCP it had wounded all its opponents and had even felt it could have managed a complete majority.
Party chief Uddhav Thackeray hasn’t been averse to mocking the BJP’s claims of a ‘Modi wave’, having done so multiple times in the past, and didn’t miss the opportunity in the editorial as well.
“During campaigning the low wave that returned even before touching the shore. In some cases there was more froth than water,” the editorial said in another not-so-veiled criticism of the Modi campaign in the state.
The party mouthpiece has claimed that the splitting of the alliances meant that while the BJP had benefited from it, the Congress-NCP had also gained from it given its crushing defeat in the Lok Sabha elections.
The party refused to offer any opinion on the poll result saying that it respected the people’s verdict but questioned whether the hung assembly would hurt the state.
“Will the state survive this? This doubt has taken seed,” the editorial said.
And in what may be a hint that the negotiations between the two former allies isn’t close to completion any time soon, the Saamna editorial said that the push and pull of the results would continue for some days to come.
Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray has been non-committal about supporting the BJP.
“I’m not offering any support, but if someone approaches us we will consider,” Thackeray had said on Sunday.
“It depends on the BJP. If they want to approach the NCP, let them do that,” Thackeray had said, regarding the NCP offer to support a BJP government from the outside.
