Shiv Sena (UBT) has slammed the Congress's attitude towards alliance partners in Maharashtra, saying it should keep them together if it wants to return to power at the Centre.
An editorial in the party's mouthpiece, Saamana, called the Congress's stance of maintaining distance from the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) partners on certain issues narrow-minded.
The criticism came against the backdrop of the Shiv Sena (UBT) giving up its claim to the lone Rajya Sabha seat from Maharashtra that the MVA was certain to win.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) then staked its claim to the lone Legislative Council seat that the alliance will contest in April for the party chief and former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray.
The editorial said Rahul Gandhi should be congratulated for handing over the Congress's leadership in Maharashtra to a capable leader, and for his ambition to reach the top.
However, it added that if his stance is that his party will reach the top only with a seat in the Legislative Council or Rajya Sabha, then they will have to reconsider their target.
The editorial said sensible co-operation is not weakness but political maturity.
Shiv Sena (UBT) advised Congress to respect regional allies.
Congress leader Sachin Sawant asked Shiv Sena (UBT) to introspect instead of blaming others.
The MVA constituents were initially divided on which coalition partner would nominate a candidate for a Rajya Sabha seat from Maharashtra.
