After a dismal performance by the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Assembly bypolls, its ally Shiv Sena has reacted sharply to it and said that this was a big lesson for Maharashtra Assembly elections.
In an article in the party's mouthpiece Saamna, Sena said, "This is a big lesson for Maharashtra elections. This is for everyone. Our feet should be on the ground. These results are not only surprising but also unexpected."
The article added, "People's minds are fickle. It is their decision. The bypoll results are lesson for October 15 Maharashtra Assembly polls. It is a lesson for all."
The party said, "Keep your feet on ground. Don't get swayed by the frenzy of victory (in Lok Sabha polls). Only those who learn this lesson will win Maharashtra. Or else the public will do the needful."
The BJP was dealt a severe blow in its strongholds in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat when it lost 13 of the 23 seats held by it there while the Congress put up a surprise showing in two of these states in the Assembly byelections.
The Sena mouthpiece said, "The bypoll results should not be linked to the Modi wave. It should be noted that there is a difference between general and state elections.
"Modi is doing a great job at international level," it said.
"Who is to blame if the work done by Modi in 100 days hasn't percolated down," it said.
Swami Adityanath raised the 'love-jihad' issue but the bypoll results show that it did not have any impact, Sena said.
"Nobody should credit Sonia or Rahul Gandhi for Congress performance in the latest bypolls," it said. Similarly, nobody should also claim that the results are a mandate against Modi, it added.
The strong remarks in the Sena editorial are being construed as a warning for BJP to tone down its demand for more seats to contest in the Maharashtra polls.
The trouble has been brewing in the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance as the former has rejected the 135-seat sharing compromise formula offered by the latter for state Assembly elections. The Sena was adamant and said it will contest on at least 150 seats in the 288-member Assembly.
(With additional information from PTI)
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