Our Visit was just a 'Courtesy' :Shiv Sena

NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 13- When Senior Sena leader and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut had on Monday made a surprise appearance at Mr. Naidu's day-long protest over demand for special status for his state, saying he came to attend the event as a representative of his party, It raised quite a few eyebrows and strained relations with senior ally BJP.
Shiv Sena on Wednesday said its leader Sanjay Raut's visit to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu during his fast in Delhi was merely a courtesy call and criticized the BJP over the handling of its allies.

The party also asked what was the guarantee that the BJP will not reach out to its former ally, the Naidu-led TDP, in case it falls short of numbers to form the government after the Lok Sabha elections.

In an editorial in party mouthpiece "Saamana", "We are also against splitting of states. But our visit has been seen as if the sky has fallen upon the government," it said.

"What is the guarantee that if required, senior BJP leaders will not knock at the doors of Naidu for his support to form the government after the Lok Sabha polls?" it asked.

Mr Naidu was a "great leader" till the time he was with the NDA and now he is suddenly "untouchable", the editorial said.