‘Break alliance with MNS or we’ll sit in opposition’: BJP warns Shinde Sena in KDMC over Modi photo row | Thane News
KALYAN: The political row between the BJP and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) over the alleged removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s photograph in Pune has now spilled over into the Mahayuti alliance in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC), with the BJP warning the Shiv Sena that it could walk out of the civic alliance if the Sena continues to share power with the MNS.The warning was issued after MNS youth leader Amit Thackeray allegedly got a photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi removed at a government medical college in Pune. The BJP has strongly condemned the incident and demanded that the Shiv Sena immediately withdraw its support to the MNS in KDMC.BJP Kalyan district president Nandu Parab, deputy mayor Rahul Damle and other BJP corporators and office-bearers held a meeting to discuss the issue. Following the meeting, Parab wrote a strongly worded letter to Shiv Sena district president Gopal Landge, asking the Sena to take an immediate stand on its alliance with the MNS.In the letter, Parab pointed out that the BJP and Shiv Sena had contested the 2026 civic elections as part of the Mahayuti, while the MNS had opposed the alliance. However, after the elections, the Shiv Sena brought the MNS into the ruling arrangement, he said.The BJP had not opposed the move earlier as it wanted to follow the “Mahayuti dharma”, Parab said, while alleging that the MNS had repeatedly criticised BJP leaders and office-bearers and attempted to create differences within the alliance.BJP group leader Shashikant Kamble said the Shiv Sena had contested the elections as part of the Mahayuti under Modi’s leadership and therefore needed to decide whether it was appropriate to continue with the MNS following the incident involving the Prime Minister’s photograph.“Shiv Sena contested the elections in the Mahayuti under the leadership of Modi ji. Now, after an incident in which his photograph was allegedly removed, the Sena needs to think whether it wants to continue with the MNS. If necessary, we are ready to sit in the Opposition in KDMC,” Kamble said.Deputy Mayor Rahul Damle said, “If the Mahayuti has to continue, the MNS should be immediately removed from the alliance. If our leaders are being insulted, we will not sit in power with the MNS. We follow the alliance dharma, but Shiv Sena now has to take a decision.”However, the Shiv Sena has rejected the BJP’s attempt to dictate its alliance decisions. Shiv Sena deputy district president Rajesh Kadam said the party did not support Thackeray’s alleged action, but maintained that the decision on continuing the alliance with the MNS would be taken by the party’s senior leadership.“Shiv Sena does not support what Amit Thackeray did. As far as the alliance with the MNS is concerned, the senior leadership will take a decision on whether to continue with the alliance. However, the BJP cannot lecture us on alliance dharma, because everyone knows what the BJP has done in Ambernath, Badlapur and Bhiwandi,” Kadam said.The BJP’s warning and the Sena’s response have added a fresh layer of tension to the political equations in KDMC. While the BJP has made it clear that it is prepared to sit in the Opposition rather than share power with the MNS, the Shiv Sena has indicated that the final decision on its MNS alliance will be taken by its senior leadership.The developments could put the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in KDMC under further strain, with both sides now publicly staking out opposing positions over the Sena’s ties with the MNS.
