MUMBAI: Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray skipped the wedding ceremony of state BJP president Raosaheb Danve-Patil's son Santosh, which is being interpreted as his attempt to maintain distance from the BJP, even as Union minister and senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari indicated that his party would execute every possible option if Shiv Sena does not come along.
Thackeray chose to attend Shiv Sena MLA Rajesh Kshirsagar's son's wedding at Kolhapur on Thursday instead of BJP MLA Santosh Danve's wedding at Aurangabad. Though official stand from the Sena's camp remained that the party chief chose to attend marriage in the family of his own party MLA, it is being interpreted that Thackeray avoided attending BJP MLA's marriage to reiterate his message that he wants to maintain distance from the BJP.
Meanwhile, in a first indication of the BJP hardening its stand towards the Sena and going solo in the BMC mayor election, Union minister for surface transport Nitin Gadkari remarked, “BJP has all options open, if Sena does not join us.”
Sources indicated that the BJP has now begun making moves ahead of the March 8 mayor elections and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has been given the complete charge executing the decisions.
Later in the evening, Independent corporator Geeta Gawli was scheduled to call on Fadnavis at his official residence at Varsha. She had met Shiv Sena leaders at Matoshree earlier in the day in a bid to lend support to Shiv Sena. However, the terms did not work out, party sources said. The BJP is making efforts at mediation through Geeta's father Arun Gawli, sources said.