Mumbai: With BJP left badly bruised in the Delhi Assembly poll, ally Shiv Sena today added to its woes saying the outcome amounted to “defeat” for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and showed that tsunami is mightier than the “Modi wave”.
“It would not be wrong to call the results a defeat for Narendra Modi. Talks had been going on about a Modi wave sweeping the country. But the people of Delhi have shown that tsunami is mightier than a wave,” Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said, taking a swipe at BJP over the poll debacle.
The Sena leader, who called up AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal to congratulate him on the victory, said he would attend the oath-taking ceremony if invited.
“I spoke to (Arvind) Kejriwal today and congratulated him on this victory. I also advised him to continue to work for Delhi and not commit the mistake of resigning from the CM's post again,” he said.
Though Shiv Sena is part of the NDA government at the Centre and BJP-led dispensation in Maharashtra, the relations between the two parties have been far from smooth since the two parted ways just ahead of the state Assembly elections last year.
Uddhav said the Sena will continue to be in the government but at the same time ensure that the benefits of government schemes reached the people.
“When we were in the Opposition, we had a responsibility towards the people of this state. After coming to power, this responsibility has only increased. It is our duty to live up to the expectations of the people. Thus, I and the Shiv Sena will ensure that schemes that are meant to benefit people, actually benefit them,” Thackeray said.
“The people of the country are the final authority. Nobody can take them lightly. The final outcome will depend on what the people of this nation want,” he said.
Despite joining the Devendra Fadnavis government weeks after it was formed after tough negotiations over ministerial berths, Sena has been critical of its handling of agrarian problems in the state and a spate of suicide by farmers.
