File photo of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray with PM Narendra Modi (Associated Press)
With only 25 days left for voting in the Maharashtra state elections, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Friday dispatched his 24-year-old son Aditya to try and save his party's 25-year alliance with the BJP.
It was the first meeting between the two allies since an incensed BJP called off talks over Uddhav's sarcastic comment questioning a "Modi wave" last weekend.
After the meeting with BJP leader OP Mathur, Aditya said, "Both parties are keen on keeping the coalition intact...we discussed a formula and are now awaiting a decision."
The young Shiv Sena leader also said he was "still hopeful" that the Shiv Sena would get to contest 150 of the 288 seats in the state.
Soon after, his father drove out of the family home Matoshree, reportedly to discuss with party leaders, the BJP's offer on seat sharing. Sources say the BJP has lowered their demand from 135 seats, however, the exact figure is not known. The Sena does not want the BJP to contest 135 seats, which will make it difficult for the Shiv Sena to contest 150, since their smaller allies have to be accommodated too. At stake is the post of chief minister, which will go to the party with most legislators if the coalition wins.
The Shiv Sena is unhappy that the BJP wants to contest more seats in Maharashtra than it has traditionally done in their many years together. The Sena asserts its place as the senior partner in the state and dismisses the BJP's argument that its superior performance in the national elections four months ago qualify it for more seats to contest.
The two parties have squabbled over seats before, but this time the crisis is deep, senior Sena leaders have admitted.
Efforts to reconcile are however still on. After an internal meeting the BJP said today that it wants its alliance with the Shiv Sena to continue. The party's state chief Devendra Fadnavis said, "The ball is in the court of the Shiv Sena."
Through the week the partners have engaged in brinksmanship, issuing sharp warnings to each other.