Hoping to soothe simmering discontent within its ranks over its alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party, Shiv Sena leadership claimed in party mouthpiece Saamana that it has communicated its reservations about the BJP's behaviour to the Amit Shah-led party in strong language, and only then decided to give the relationship another shot. An editorial in Saamana said on Wednesday that BJP chief Shah had come to the Thackeray residence, Matoshree, in Bandra, after which he was told about Sena's reservations in 'Thackeray manner' (the caustic language Sena is known for). The party organ, which has party president Uddhav Thackeray as the editor and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut as the executive editor, claimed there was an agreement between the two parties that the "mistakes of the past" would not be repeated. "It was decided to give the alliance another chance," it claimed. On Monday, BJP president Amit Shah, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray announced the alliance between the two parties, months after Shiv Sena had announced it would contest all future elections without the BJP. The decision to enter a poll pact has led to intense reactions from Sena cadres and second-rung leadership. Addressing their concerns, the Saamana editorial said the two parties were equal partners in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the BJP's overtures to the party could be attributed to the party realising they could not come to power on their own. It added that "this is neither retreat nor eating humble pie. This is certainly not an adjustment.... the winds turned in our direction, history knows that we did not turn in the direction of the wind." "The Shiv Sena's sword... is used for justice and truth. Our own people stabbed us in the back. This has happened repeatedly in history. Be it Shivaji Maharaj or the Shiv Sena chief [late Bal Thackeray]," the editorial said.

Stay updated with all the Mumbai Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.