The Shiv Sena on Wednesday snubbed BJP national general secretary Gopinath Munde for hailing Gujarat CM Narendra Modi as a substitute for Pramod Mahajan and for cautioning the Sena against hobnobbing with NCP chief Sharad Pawar.

In an editorial titled “Munde yanchi Sallabaaji” (unsolicited advice being doled out by Munde), the party mouthpiece Saamna, edited by Sena supremo Bal Thackeray, went on to confirm that the Sena-BJP alliance would continue. “There is a crop of advisors coming up in Maharashtra. It cannot be said who will advise whom. Obviously, who heeds such free advice?” said the editorial.

It took on Munde for his statement that the Modi factor would be important in Maharashtra and that Modi, largely seen as a challenger eating into the Sena’s aggressive brand of Hindutva, was the mascot of Hindutva. “Why are you comparing Mahajan and Modi? Mahajan was supreme in his place. The BJP will not get another Pramod and the BJP will always regret Pramod’s absence. Pramod Mahajan’s contribution is there in erecting the BJP in Maharashtra. Actually, Modi came into the limelight (only) after becoming the Chief Minister,” it added.

“Modi wants to become the Prime Minister and his ambition is no secret. The question is that, Munde is also a leader of Modi’s stature in Maharashtra and he must indulge in politics of his stature. Or else, he will again feel encircled and uneasy,” the editorial said, taking a swipe at Munde.

Referring to Munde’s advice to the Sena against cosying up to Pawar since there was “danger” there, the editorial said such risks were everywhere, “most from our own people”. “Munde knows Pawar from afar and us from up close. Hence, we feel that there is no chance of any tension in the alliance,” it added.