Mumbai: It seems both BJP and Shiv Sena have finally realized that if they have to register victory in the upcoming assembly elections in Maharashtra then they can't afford to break the 25-year-old alliance.
The tone of the leaders of the two parties has also changed. After emerging out of a meeting with BJP leaders, Aditya Thackeray, son of Uddhav Thackeray, said that the alliance will stay intact and that there is no question of the two sides parting ways.
He said that he will convey the outcome of his meeting with BJP leaders to Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray.
By evening, BJP leaders also softened their stand on seat sharing and said that the alliance will remain intact.
Meanwhile, the core committees of BJP and Shiv Sena will be meeting tonight at 9pm to resolve the deadlock over seat sharing for upcoming assembly elections in the state.
The meeting will take place at Matoshree, the residence of Uddhav Thackeray.
In this meeting, BJP will be represented by Om Mathur, Devendra Fadnavis, Vinod Tawade and Sudhir Mungantiwar while Uddhav Thackeray, Aditya Thackeray and Sanjay Raut will be present from Shiv Sena side.
The two sides will decide the final formula for seat sharing in the state.
Earlier, the 25-year-old alliance between the BJP and the Shiv Sena was on the verge of collapse Friday with both parties adopting a tough stance on the issue of seat-sharing for the Oct 15 state assembly elections, party officials said.
"It's on the verge of breaking - Only a formal announcement is awaited," a senior state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, requesting anonymity, said early Friday.
Similarly, a senior Shiv Sena functionary hinted that the alliance "is over", but the party has decided to wait for further developments before declaring its stand.
