Rajnath, Modi assured MNS won't be part of Mahayuti: Uddhav

The Shiv Sena-BJP ties were cordial and tensions happened because of one person, Uddhav said without naming BJP leader Nitin Gadkari, who had met MNS chief Raj Thackeray.

He did not wish to react to Gadkari's comments post the meeting (with Raj Thackeray) that Sena had overreacted.

"The question is whether he was authorised to initiate talks with Raj and whether he had spoken to all the alliance partners before doing so," he said.

On MNS fielding candidates against Sena nominees, Uddhav said Raj's party had also put up candidates where NCP was contesting but not against BJP.

Uddhav said Rajnath Singh and Modi were in constant touch with him.

"Shiv Sena has been the oldest ally of the BJP and has been with the party through thick and thin. People like Ram Vilas Paswan are joining because things are looking good for the BJP-led NDA," he said.

Uddhav also expressed confidence that AAP factor will not work in Maharashtra. "In Delhi, if BJP had declared its chief ministerial candidate on time, the party could have got majority," he said.

When asked about Sena contesting elections outside Maharashtra, Uddhav said the party is functioning in about 18 states.

"Shiv Sainiks in states like Gujarat, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir are functioning keeping Bal Thackeray's ideals in mind. I have told them to contest elections but not at the cost of hurting BJP's prospects," he said.