Defiant Uddhav Thackeray rules out BJP tie-up, throws down gauntlet to PM Modi for Maharashtra Assembly Polls

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Uddhav Thackeray, the leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction, has firmly asserted that he will never align with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the party that attempted to "finish off" his Shiv Sena. His remarks came during the 58th foundation day celebrations of Shiv Sena, putting to rest speculations of a potential alliance with the BJP ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly Elections later this year.The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders had taken a dig at the INDIA bloc's Lok Sabha election performance in Maharashtra.

The saffron party had said that the INDIA bloc partners were mooching off of Uddhav Thackeray's hard work. This remark had triggered speculation that BJP, after its dismal performance in the Maharashtra Lok Sabha elections, was planning to rope in the other faction of Shiv Sena headed by Thackeray.BJP is in alliance with Eknath Shinde faction of Shiv Sena in MaharashtraUddhav Thackeray reiterated the INDIA bloc's claim, stating, "Narendra Modi-led govt will collapse, we will set up INDIA bloc-led government." He challenged PM Modi to start campaigning for the Assembly elections immediately and fulfill the promises made by Chandrababu Naidu's manifesto in Andhra Pradesh.The BJP's failure to achieve a simple majority in the Lok Sabha, winning only 240 seats, has boosted the confidence of the INDIA bloc partners.

Thackeray accused the BJP of abandoning Hindutva and questioned the party's alliances with regional outfits like the TDP and JDU.In Maharashtra, the Congress won 13 seats, the Shiv Sena (UBT) bagged 9, and the NCP (SP) clinched 8 out of the 48 Lok Sabha seats. The seat-sharing deal saw the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) contesting the largest share of 21 seats, followed by the Congress at 17