The Shiv Sena on Friday called on the Bharatiya Janata Party to consider the members of political parties aligned to it for governors’ posts in the country. In an editorial in Saamna, its mouthpiece, the party said all governors appointed by the Narendra Modi-led government had been members of the ruling BJP.

The National Democratic Alliance member said members from other coalition partners including the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Telugu Desam Party needed to be considered for gubernatorial posts. “The truth is that a ruling party can settle around 40 people by giving them…amenities entitled for the post of governor and lieutenant governor,” the editorial stated. “There should not be any problem in appointing some people from ally parties.”

The Sena’s comments came two days after BJP member and former Union Minister Najma Heptullah was appointed the governor of Manipur. She took over from V Shamuganathan, former vice president of the party. The ruling party also appointed its members Banwarilal Purohit and VP Singh Badnore the governors of Assam and Punjab respectively.