Kalyan: The uneasy relationship between alliance partners BJP and Shiv Sena in the Kalyan-Dombivli region appeared to deteriorate further on Sunday, with both parties inducting each other’s local functionaries in a tit-for-tat political battle despite an earlier understanding to refrain from poaching workers.The uneasy relationship between alliance partners BJP and Shiv Sena in the Kalyan-Dombivli region appeared to deteriorate further on Sunday, with both parties inducting each other’s local functionaries in a tit-for-tat political battle despite an earlier understanding to refrain from poaching workers.The latest round of defections comes days after Shiv Sena inducted several BJP office-bearers in the presence of district president Gopal Landge, MLA Rajesh More and corporator Mahesh Gaikwad. The move triggered a sharp reaction from BJP leaders, who accused Shiv Sena of violating the “alliance dharma” agreed upon by the two parties after differences surfaced during the KDMC election.Following the Shiv Sena inductions on Friday, BJP district president Nandu Parab warned that the party would respond by welcoming Shiv Sena workers into its fold. “If they induct one of our workers, we will induct four of theirs,”Parab said, alleging that Shiv Sena breached the understanding reached by the leadership of both parties.Shiv Sena leaders, however, rejected the allegation. Corporator Mahesh Gaikwad claimed that BJP first inducted around 10 Shiv Sena workers, prompting his party to retaliate by enrolling nearly 100 BJP workers.The political sparring intensified over the weekend. On Saturday, BJP corporator Dipesh Mhatre accused Shiv Sena of breaking coalition discipline and warned that the party would be taught a “lesson”. On the same day, several women office-bearers and workers of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) joined the BJP in the presence of Parab and Mhatre, a move seen as a setback for the Raj Thackeray-led party in Dombivli.On Sunday, BJP escalated the confrontation by inducting several Shiv Sena workers from Kalyan East, the same area from where Shiv Sena recently enrolled BJP functionaries.Speaking after the induction programme, Parab said the BJP merely responded to Shiv Sena’sactions. “Despite an understanding between the two alliance partners, Shiv Sena inducted our workers. We have now given them a reply. BJP is a party that gives justice to its workers, and that is why people continue to join us,” he said.Referring to the number of inductions, Parab remarked that while the BJP may move “at the pace of a tortoise”, it ultimately wins the race.The latest exchange of defections is expected to deepen friction between the two ruling allies at the grassroots level, even as the state leadership has remained silent on the growing local rivalry ahead of the civic elections.
