BJP, Shiv Sena likely to break 25-year-old alliance in Maharashtra after failure of talks

A formal announcement in the split of the alliance between the two parties is likely to be announced shortly.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its oldest ally Shiv Sena are likely to part ways ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections.

A formal announcement on the split of the 25-year-old alliance between the two parties is likely to be announced shortly, top BJP sources said.

The state BJP president Devendra Fadnavis on Thurday said Shiv Sena is placing the same old proposal making it difficult to move ahead. In counter attack, senior Sena leader Diwakar Raote said, BJP has betrayed their trust. They appear in hurry to break the alliance, if they want to take suo moto decision we can’t help, Raote said.

Under the leadership of Uddhav ji, we will build the Maharashtra of Balasaheb’s dreams- progressive, safe, prosperous! #UThaMaharashtra

— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) September 25, 2014

The Sena is unwilling to climb down from 150 seats.

We have vowed to work for a better Maharashtra and to fight and win against all those who destroyed Maharashtra and dashed the hopes of all

— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) September 25, 2014

BJP and Shiv Sena leaders, however, claimed that talks are still on and the alliance is not over yet.

One of the proposals, according to reports, was that Shiv Sena and BJP will contest 151 and 127 seats respectively leaving 10 of the state’s 288 Assembly seats for smaller allies. Additionally, it was said that three candidates of smaller partners of 6-party ‘Mahayuti’ will contest on Sena tickets and, similarly, BJP would accommodate one nominee in its quota of seats.

(With PTI inputs)