'Shiv Sena wholeheartedly supports Rahul and Sonia Gandhi'

A day after Congress leader Ashok Chavan said that Shiv Sena was not part of UPA and the tie-up between the two parties is limited to Maharashtra, the party has issued a clarification stating that Shiv Sena wholeheartedly supports Rahul and Sonia Gandhi'

New Delhi:Maharashtra Congress leader Rajeev Satav on Monday said that Nationalist Congress Party and Shiv Sena is 'wholeheartedly' in support of both Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. The remarks come after senior Congress leader and Maharashtra's public works minister Ashok Chavan slammed Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut who called for expansion of Congress-led bloc.

On Saturday, Shiv Sena's mouthpiece 'Saamna' reported that Congress is not providing effective opposition to BJP. Sanjay Raut also suggested the reporters that it is time to expand the UPA while hinting towards the name of NCP chief Sharad Pawar to lead the alliance.

While speaking over the matter, Congress Rajya Sabha MP and Maharashtra Congress leader Rajeev Satav said, "I don't see any point in that. I've gone through Saamna and there is nowhere it is written that they are asking for Mr Pawar. They are supporting Rahul Ji and Sonia Gandhi ji wholeheartedly."

Chavan, on Sunday, reacted sharply over the matter saying that Shiv Sena is not a part of UPA as the tie-up between Congress and Sena is only limited to Maharashtra. "It is true that as of now we are in alliance with Shiv Sena in Maharashtra only. So what Mr Chavan said is right," said Satav.

READ: Alliance with Shiv Sena limited to Maharashtra: Cong minister

Veteran Congress leader and former Union Minister P Chidambaram had also reacted over the speculations over Sharad Pawar's taking up the position of UPA Chairperson, by tweeting that the post is not that of a Prime Minister and even Pawar will not want that as there is no such thing as Chairperson of UPA.

Meanwhile, Congress had celebrated it's 136th Foundation Day, on Monday, amid the criticism of BJP over the absence of Rahul Gandhi at party's key event. Union Minister Giriraj Singh attacked the Congress leader saying that his holidays in India have ended and now he has gone back to Italy.

Slamming the ruling BJP, Satav said, "It is the Foundation Day of Congress. We are celebrating the occasion. Then what problem does BJP has? The right question would be, when Prime Minister will do a press conference? In the last 6 years, there was not a single press conference done by the Prime Minister. Who is BJP to question us?"

"The truth is that Rahul Gandhi is the only person who stood against the anti-people policy of Modi Government. If Giriraj ji is so much interested then he should rather tell us about the date of PM's press conference," he added.

Just a day before the Congress' Foundation Day, Rahul Gandhi went abroad on a short personal visit to Milan, Italy. Congress informed that he has gone to visit his grandmother and he will be away for some days.