With fresh attack from Shiv Sena, it seems there is no end to the uneasy path of the ruling coalition in Maharashtra between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena.

Rajya Sabha member and Sena mouthpiece “Saamana” editor Sanjay Raut in anambiguous message has raised a question on the actual day of death of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

In an editorial published in the Sena mouthpiece, Raut with some indirect questions and observations pose a new challenge to BJP by doubting the timing of death of Vajpayee ji.

He raises doubt if the tall leader of the nation died on August 16 or the date was manipulated to ensure PM Narendra Modi’s Independence Day speech on August 15.

In the editorial titled “What is Swarajya?”, he wrote that rather than people, our rulers should first understand the meaning of Swarajya. Atal Bihari Vajpayee passed away on August 16, but his condition was deteriorating since August 12-13.

He further added that to avoid the Independence Day as a national mourning day and the lowering of flag to half-mast, also as the Prime Minister Narendra Modi was to make his elaborate speech from the Red Fort, Vajpayee left this world on August 16.

Although he gave no explanation or reason for his doubt, this was enough to point out the fact that all is not well between both the parties.

Later in the editorial post, he raised few more observations taking jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP. He said: “National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah shouted, "Bharat Mata Ki Jai"and "Jai Hind" at a condolence meet and for this reason,he was manhandled in Srinagar. However, the government shielded the culprits. This has also spawned a new kind of independence.”

In another criticism, he said in the article that when we hear news that the police have successfully captured terrorists who had planned to carry out attacks in Delhi, it tells us that Independence Day is nearing. This has now become a tradition.

Raut further wrote that on the occasion of the Independence Day, thePrime Minister made many announcements for the poor,but the tone of the speech suggested that the previous governments did nothing and the freedom until now was wasted.

Taking a dig at Prime Minister Modi and BJP’s fight against corruption, the Sena MP also added: ‘although the Prime Minister says people who take bribe are facing action, bribery has not decreased.’

BJP and Shiv Sena are in power sharing coalition in Maharashtra, but it’s been over a year, the Sena leaders including the party supremoUddhav Thackeray are taking scoff at the Centre as well as the Maharashtra government.

Nevertheless, even after all these bickering, it is well-known that Shiv Sena would still not find it easy to go solo in the next election, as it might end up dividing the Hindu votes, which might give the Congress-NCP combine the advantage.

--Deepak Mohanty