Kasuri episode :BJP-Shiv Sena head for separate contest
According to an NDTV report, the Shiv Sena would contest all 122 seats of the Kalyan-Dombivali municipal elections on its own. Kalyan and Dombivali are Mumbai's satellite cities with a municipal corporation currently run by the Sena-BJP alliance.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis accused the Shiv Sena of bringing the state a bad name with its protest against the launch of Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri's book, which included an attack with black paint on the event's organiser, former BJP adviser and columnist Sudheendra Kulkarni.
"We cannot endorse Mr Kasuri, but can't let our state turn into a banana republic," the chief minister said.
The Sena says it will oppose any engagement with Pakistan as long as it supports terror attacks on Indian soil.
Last week, the Sena forced the cancellation of famous Pakistani singer Ghulam Ali's concert in Mumbai while Fadnavis had said the ghazal singer was welcome to perform in the city.
However, Kasuri's programme was held without any incident of protests on Monday amid an unprecedented security. Shiv Sena workers were arrested for the paint attack on Kulkarni, described by Sena leader Aditya Thackeray as "non-violent".
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