Placated Thackeray waxes eloquent on ally

Placated Thackeray waxes eloquent on ally
PRAFULLA MARPAKWAR

MUMBAI, JULY 6: Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray today chose the size of the bouquet, he presented to Union Home Minister L K Advani, as the yardstick to convince the members of the Fourth Estate that there were absolutely no chinks in the Sena-BJP alliance.

``You see, the size of the bouquet I presented to Advani for the Centre's decision to outrightly reject the controversial proposal to grant autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir. It should be enough to convince Doubting Thomases. We have no complaints against the Centre, in fact our relations with the BJP are very cordial and friendly,'' Thackeray said after his 45-minute closed door meeting with the Union Home Minister.

This was the second meeting between Thackeray and Advani ever since the Sena-BJP alliance lost power to the Congress-led Democratic Front Government in October. The last meeting was held in December 1999, wherein Thackeray apprised Advani of the negative approach of the BJP on dislodging the Vilasrao Deshmukh Government.

The meeting had assumed political significance following a strong protest lodged by Thackeray against Prime Minister Vajpayee for his style of functioning. Thackeray's main grievance was that though his party was one of the main constituents of the National Democratic Alliance, the Centre had always ignored the Shiv Sena for obvious political reasons.

Thackeray had also pointed out that while his party was not consulted while appointing governors or making nominations to the Rajya Sabha, even the portfolios allocated to Manohar Joshi, Suresh Prabhu and Balasaheb Vikhe Patil were almost non-functional.

Thackeray was also disturbed over undue importance being given to Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress and Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam, despite the fact that the Shiv Sena had been associated with the BJP for more than one and half decade.

Thackeray's another grievance was that there was no sufficient cooperation from the state BJP unit to topple the eight-month-old Democratic Front Government, as a result, despite setting up deadlines, the Shiv Sena had not been able to dislodge it.

However, after his conclave with Advani, there was a complete change in Thackeray's approach towards the differences between the Shiv Sena and BJP. Whether on allocation of `dead' portfolios to Manohar Joshi and Suresh Prabhu or step-motherly treatment meted out to Shiv Sena in the decision-making process, Thackeray specifically maintained that the two parties were on cordial and friendly terms.

``I had a very fruitful meeting with Advani. We discussed the autonomy proposal moved by the Jammu and Kashmir Government and also the political situation in Maharashtra. I am also planning to meet Prime Minister Vajpayee during his visit to the metropolis in July ,'' he said.

On any specific assurance given by Advani to the proposals raised by him, Thackeray said there was no need for a commitment from Advani. ``I don't need a specific commitment, since we have cordial relations,'' he remarked.

On the allocation of `dead' portfolios, Thackeray said since allocation of portfolios was the prerogative of the Prime Minister, Union Ministers Manohar Joshi, Suresh Prabhu and Balasaheb Vikhe-Patil will call on Vajpayee to resolve the dispute. Thackeray had taken strong objection to the Centre's decision to divest Manohar Joshi of the disinvestment portfolio.

On the autonomy proposal for Jammu and Kashmir, Thackeray congratulated the Prime Minister for taking a bold decision. ``Since the proposal has been rejected outrightly, our stand has been accepted,'' he said.

When the proposal was approved in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, Thackeray had demanded immediate dismissal of the Abdullah Government, saying, approval of any such proposal will result in another partition.

Though senior Ministers Manohar Joshi and Suresh Prabhu as well as BJP leaders Gopinath Munde, Atul Bhatkhalkar and Vinod Tawade were present, there were kept away from the meeting between Thackeray and Advani.

Advani said, following media reports, it appeared that there were serious differences between Shiv Sena and BJP, but after his meeting with Thackeray, he has come to the conclusion that it was due to lack of communication and coordination. ``Our relations are very cordial and friendly. If there are any differences, I have asked our party functionaries to interact with me or the Prime Minister,'' Advani pointed out.