MUMBAI, November 23: The Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party, partners in the Maharashtra Government, have locked horns in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh.The Shiv Sena is contesting a record 90 out of 320 seats against its nominees in the November 25 Assembly elections. ``Our alliance is only in Maharashtra, and as such, the BJP should not have any objection to our decision to contest polls. In fact, not only the Shiv Sena, but the Samata Party, which is part of the alliance government at the Centre, has also put up its nominees against the BJP,'' Shiv Sena Member of Parliament Sanjay Nirupam said.
Nirupam, accompanied by prominent Shiv Sena leaders from Mumbai, undertook a whirlwind tour of more than 24 Assembly constituencies in the Raipur - Bilaspur belt. ``The response to our meetings was very good and it should not be difficult for us to win a sufficient number of seats,'' Nirupam added.
Nirupam said that during his campaign, he clearly told the electorate the BJP had failed to keep itspromises. ``In its manifesto, the BJP had promised that it would take immediate steps for the construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya and that it would take stringent action against illegal migrants, particularly from Bangladesh. I feel no concrete action (sic) has been taken to implement these assurances,'' Nirupam said.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.