Sena MLA tells Uddhav to 'get closer' to Modi, cites Central ‘harassment’

As sniping continues between the constituents of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra, the emergence of a letter by a Shiv Sena MLA to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is expected to trigger more questions about the state of the alliance.

On Sunday, reports said Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik had written to Uddhav to consider growing closer to the BJP. The Shiv Sena broke ties with the BJP, its oldest ally, after the 2019 Assembly polls on the issue of which party should hold the chief minister’s post. The Shiv Sena then stitched together an unprecedented alliance with the NCP and Congress.

Sarnaik is the MLA for Ovala-Majiwada constituency. Screenshots of the letter showed it was dated June 10.

In the letter, Sarnaik is quoted by ANI as saying, "NCP and Congress want their own CM. Congress wants to contest alone and NCP is trying to break away leaders from Shiv Sena. There seems to be veiled support from Centre; no Central agency is behind NCP leaders."

Sarnaik wrote, "We believe in you and your leadership, but Congress and NCP are trying to weaken our party. I believe that it will be better if you get closer to PM [Narendra] Modi... If we come together once again, it will be beneficial to the party and workers."

Sarnaik added, "Central agencies are targeting us for no fault of ours; if you come close to PM Modi, sufferings of leaders like Ravindra Waikar, Anil Parab, Pratap Sarnaik and their families will end."

Sarnaik wrote that the Shiv Sena should join hands with the BJP for the upcoming civic polls in 10 cities, including Mumbai, Thane, Pune and Nagpur.

Pratap Sarnaik and his son were summoned for questioning by the Enforcement Directorate late last year in connection with a case under the money-laundering act. Pratap Sarnaik is a three-time legislator. He rose from humble origins as an autorickshaw driver in Mumbai. Pratap Sarnaik was reported to have assets worth over Rs 143 crore, with interests in sectors ranging from real estate to hospitality.

Former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya took a jibe at Sarnaik over the letter. Somaiya tweeted that Sarnaik, Parab and Waikar (all of whom are Shiv Sena leaders) “will have to be guest of jail”.