Under fire Uddhav retracts, terms Modi as "Common-man"

BJP on Wednesday took a strong exception regarding a controversial comment made by its former ally.

Reacting sharply to Uddhav's comment, senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari said, "We have respect for everyone, but if they disrespect us we will not tolerate it." 

Under-fire Uddhav later tried to dilute things by saying that he referred Modi as a “common-man”.

The controversy began after Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday made a direct statement triggering the issue of his chief ministerial ambitions.

“If a Chaiwala (Tea-vendor) Can Become PM, Why Can't I be Chief Minister?” Thackeray said in party mouthpiece Saamna on Wednesday morning.

"For 25 years, we have been together; we have seen victories and routs. When the alliance collapsed, I felt deeply pained, but I did not succumb," Thackeray said in the Saamna interview.

Describing BJP as power-hungry party, he added, “The BJP broke its alliance with us as they were hungry for power. They wanted to rule the state like they are ruling the country, after getting a majority in Lok Sabha elections. They thought they can divide Maharashtra if they are in power with a majority here. But the Sena will never let that happen.”

The comment sparked a controversy as BJP slammed Shiv Sena immediately condemning the statement by Uddhav.

Maharashtra BJP President Devendra Fadnavis said, It is very unfortunate...The language used by Sena. It is unlike Maharashtra culture.

“The kind of language they have used was highly irresponsible and deeply offensive. This kind of politics is not acceptable in Maharashtra politics. The people of Maharashtra and not us will give them a fitting reply,” he added.

Another BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain said, Shiv Sena knows the truth and they know that Maharashtra has already decided to vote for BJP.

Realizing that the issue has backfired and might cast an impact on voting which is underway, Uddhav later released a statement clarifying that he meant if a common man like Modi can become PM, he can also become CM.

“Common man is most powerful which is seen in Modi ji who was “chai wala” is now PM, that same power will work here,” Uddhav is quoted by media as saying.

The ‘Cold-War’ between Modi and Uddhav started a month ago, when seat-sharing talks between the 2 coalition partners started.

Over the past few months, Thackeray who previously supported Modi, has been open about his criticism of the BJP and PM Modi.

After the failure of the deal, when BJP and Shiv Sena parted ways, Uddhav started criticizing BJP and Modi sharply, though BJP on the other hand stayed away from direct attack against Shiv Sena.

This is not the first time that Uddhav was sharply critical towards Modi.

Media reported, earlier too Uddhav had created a flutter when he compared the campaign by Team Modi with the attack on Maharashtra by the Bijapur general Afzal Khan's army.

Following Wednesday’s attack, some BJP leaders felt that Sena’s attack on Modi is a clear sign of desperation.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiv Sena snapped their 25-year old ties and ended their “Mahayuti” alliance over the issue of seat sharing agreement.

Who would be chief minister was also at the core of the BJP’s fallout with the Shiv Sena, sources said.

The bone of contention between parties was the seat-sharing for the Assembly elections.

The Sena was adamant on its demand to contest on at least 150, so was the BJP for 130 seats.

The alliance emerged victorious in the 1995  Assembly elections in Maharshtra and formed the government.

In 2014, the BJP-Sena alliance won 41 seats out of total 48 in the Lok Sabha elections.

Meanwhile, voting is being held on Wednesday for 288 assembly constituencies in Maharashtra and 90 seats in Haryana.

About 10 crore people are expected to exercise their franchises.

The BJP has “strategically” not projected any particular name for the chief ministerial post but Maharashtra unit chief Devendra Fadnavis and senior leader Eknath Khadse are expected to be front-runners, reports said.