Mumbai, 14 October 2014

Throughout the assembly campaign, Shiv Sena in Maharashtra avoided direct attack on Gujaratis. The party took this stand to avoid any harm to whatever number of Gujarati votes it is still likely to get.

Shiv Sena is hoping for Gujarati votes in Mumbai on two grounds. One, it believes that it had protected Gujarati Hindus during riots in 1990s. And two, it believes it has not taken stand against Gujaratis in past few years and also during the assembly poll campaign.

A day before the election, Shiv Sena in editorial article of its mouthpiece publication Samna hoped Gujaratis to vote for Shiv Sena. The party alleged BJP of provoking Gujarati voters(read the highlighted text in image attached to this article).

Author’s note: It is looking like Gujarati votes are going to be consolidated in favor of BJP led by Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. In that case, post-results it has to be seen, that how MNS, Nitesh Rane-Narayan Rane led Congress, NCP and perhaps Shiv Sena cadre actually behave with Gujaratis. Whether they will target Gujaratis for voting in favor of BJP or halt their vicious campaign against Gujaratis!