Mumbai , Mar 15 : Two days after reaching a seat sharing pact with the BJP, the Shiv Sena today once again came out in strong support for a Marathi prime minister and asked its saffron ally to clarify its stand on the issue.

In an article published today in the Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana', the party&aposs spokesperson Sanjay Raut has come out in strong support of having a Maharashtrian as the PM and criticised MNS chief Raj Thackeray who has ridiculed the possibility of NCP supremo Sharad Pawar becoming the PM.

Later, in a press conference here, he said"BJP should clear it&aposs stand about Marathi manoos for the top job. Senior leaders in the state like Munde and Gadkari would not like if a Marathi grabs the post."

Raut, however, agreed that as his party is a part of NDA, it would support Advani for the post."But if someone thinks that a Marathi does not deserve the top job then they should dare to declare it publicly,"he said, adding"The issue of a Marathi prime minister should not be ridiculed in Maharashtra at least".

Statements from the Sena supporting Pawar for the PM&aposs post had created a fissure in the saffron alliance which got diffused after the two parties reached a seat-sharing pact two days ago. But party sources fear that repeated statements from the Sena on the Marathi PM issue may deepen the rift.