BJP and Shiv Sena should work together in Maharashtra, says Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday hinted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may soon patch up with the Shiv Sena, and work together for the state's development.

"The BJP and the Shiv Sena have fought the election separately, but both parties have the feeling that we should work together for governance. The Shiv Sena is still in the government at the Centre and with the NDA. Thus, we have decided that in the Maharashtra Government too, there should be participation from their side," he told the media here.

Fadnavis informed that the BJP has deputed two leaders including Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to initiate talks with the Shiv Sena.

"In that respect, we will start the talks from tomorrow and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and state PWD Minister Chandrakant Dada Patil have been given been full authority by the BJP and they will start the talks from tomorrow," he added.

Fadnavis-led BJP Government had won the trust motion in the Maharashtra Assembly earlier this month through a voice vote.

The BJP and Shiv Sena had snapped their 25-year alliance in September ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly polls over a seat-sharing disagreement.

Following the polls, the BJP had emerged as the single largest party with 122 seats in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly. The Shiv Sena finished second with 63 seats while the NCP emerged victorious in 41 seats.