Thackeray raps Munde for calling Pawar 'danger man'

A day after he refused to see BJP prime ministerial candidate LK Advani during his Mumbai visit, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Wednesday derided BJP leader Gopinath Munde for 'counselling' his party that any overture to Sharad Pawar-led NCP was fraught with 'danger'.

"The fact of life is that danger comes from within, from our own people. Pramod Mahajan who was the closest BJP leader to me was killed by his own brother," said Thackeray in his editorial in the party mouthpiece 'Saamna'.

"There is no dearth of politicians who offer free counselling in Maharashtra. Our friend Munde too has counselled us not to get too close to Sharad Pawar who is practising pressure tactics when electoral adjustments are being discussed," Thackeray said.

He also reminded Munde that "just a few days ago Advani himself had said that in politics there are no untouchables."

Referring to his relations with Pawar, the Sena chief said, "We know Pawar in and out. We have experienced Pawar more than any one else."

"Sitting on a 'Katta' at Shivaji Park, Pawar had heard the speeches made by us when Shiv Sena was founded decades ago," he said.

"Munde should stop worrying about Pawar. I am here to bless all if something happens for the good of Maharashtra," Thackeray said, fuelling more speculations over his party getting cosy with NCP at the cost of long standing alliance partner BJP in the state.

Media reports of a recent meeting between Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray in Delhi was neither confirmed nor denied by both the leaders.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister Ashok Chavan who was in Pune last night expressed confidence that differences over seat sharing with NCP in the state would be sorted out and the secular alliance would remain intact to face the coming Lok Sabha polls.