Sena-BJP Breakup; Read inside story

Sena-BJP Breakup; Read inside story

The rift between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and theShiv Sena had begun in February, when the two sides announced a tie-up for theLok Sabha polls.

The Sena realised it was time to raise the issue of jointchief ministership, or two CMs from the two parties having a two-and-a-halfyear tenure each, as a condition for an alliance for the national elections,according to the BJP leader who did not want to be named.

Sena had been with the BJP for over three decades and wasconsidered its oldest ally, struck discordant notes even before the nationalelections over power-sharing in Maharashtra, and the ties between the two sidescould have snapped if last-minute firefighting efforts were not initiated. Thetop leadership of the two sides helped overcome the differences at that time,according to a senior BJP functionary.

On February 18, Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray and BJP ChiefAmit Shah hammered out a deal in view of the national as well as stateelections in October.

Later, as the ties between the two sides worsened overpower-sharing after the October 24 results, the Sena would say the BJPleadership had agreed to rotational chief ministership. The BJP would denymaking any such commitment. According to the Sena, Thackeray raised the issueat the meeting with Shah.

The Lok Sabha polls went well for the alliance, with theSena winning 18 and the BJP 23 of the state's 48 seats.

In the assembly elections, the BJP won 105 and the Sena 56of the state's 288 seats; their combined tally was away above the halfway markof 145.

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