In a strong reaction to its ally Shiv Sena's decision to back United Progressive Alliance-Left candidate Pratibha Patil for the presidential election, the Bharatiya Janata Party in Maharashtra on Monday said it had put a question mark on the saffron alliance in the state.

Terming Sena chief Bal Thackeray's decision as "unfortunate", BJP state president Nitin Gadkari said, "The fact that Sena is backing a Congress candidate as the President and Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar [Images] as the prime minister makes us wonder if the Sena is with the ruling parties or us?"

Pointing out that as Rajasthan Governor Pratibha had refused to sign the Anti-Conversion Bill, Gadkari said, "Nor has she given any assurance as far as hanging Afzal Guru (Parliament attack convict sentenced to death) is concerned. On what basis then has the Shiv Sena extended support to Pratibha?"

The state BJP's reaction is in stark contrast with the party's national leadership, which tried to play down the issue by saying it will not have any impact on the National Democratic Alliance-supported independent candidate Bhairon Singh Shekhawat's poll prospects.