Pune: On Monday, Shiv Sena replied to accusations made by Chief Sharad Pawar of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) that the governing coalition misused the leaders of state and central organizations to "poach." The Sena said that joining them is not arming political leaders, but rather "winning hearts."
Pawar claimed on Sunday that the state and central governments misused investigating organizations to force opposition political leaders to enter the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the elections to the assembly. His remarks came after a number of NCP leaders–including politician Vaibhav Pichad, Mumbai unit chief Sachin Ahir, and women's wing chief Chitra Wagh. "Many Congress-NCP lawmakers are in the queue to join the BJP. Sharad Pawar was concerned about it. Pawar has claimed that lawmakers are being poached by ED and IT departments. The Shiv Sena has no control over the department of ED, IT or police. Those allegations therefore don't stick to the Sena, "read an article in Saamana – Sena's mouthpiece.
