File pic: Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray with PM Narendra Modi
Mumbai:
The BJP has called off its 25-year-old alliance with the Shiv Sena.
The party announced it after a series of meetings with the Sena today, after days of bickering over allocation of seats for the Maharashtra elections now less than three weeks away.
"The Sena stuck to its stand, there was no flexibility in deliberations," BJP's Eknath Khadse said in Mumbai.
The BJP had earlier said it was waiting for a fresh proposal from the Sena, which would need a significant climbdown for Uddhav Thackeray's party. It would have to accept contesting fewer seats than it wanted and that would be an acknowledgment that its status as the senior partner in Maharashtra is now eroded.
The alliance had reached breakpoint over the number of seats each party would contest. In a sign that the end game could be near, BJP president Amit Shah cancelled his trip to Mumbai today for the second straight day.
The BJP argued that its superior performance in the national elections qualifies it for equal status. The Sena said the two elections cannot be compared. At stake is the chief minister's post which the party with the more seats will get if the alliance is voted to power.
For the Shiv Sena, this could be Mr Thackeray's best shot at becoming Chief Minister. His son Aditya Thackeray tweeted, "Under the leadership of Uddhav ji, we will build the Maharashtra of Balasaheb's dreams- progressive, safe, prosperous!"
He also said, "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."
The split will trigger massive realignment ahead of the Maharashtra polls. The rival Congress-led alliance is also on the verge of splitting, with strong indications that Sharad Pawar's NCP or Nationalist Congress Party is in touch with the BJP.
The party announced it after a series of meetings with the Sena today, after days of bickering over allocation of seats for the Maharashtra elections now less than three weeks away.
"The Sena stuck to its stand, there was no flexibility in deliberations," BJP's Eknath Khadse said in Mumbai.
The BJP had earlier said it was waiting for a fresh proposal from the Sena, which would need a significant climbdown for Uddhav Thackeray's party. It would have to accept contesting fewer seats than it wanted and that would be an acknowledgment that its status as the senior partner in Maharashtra is now eroded.
The alliance had reached breakpoint over the number of seats each party would contest. In a sign that the end game could be near, BJP president Amit Shah cancelled his trip to Mumbai today for the second straight day.
The BJP argued that its superior performance in the national elections qualifies it for equal status. The Sena said the two elections cannot be compared. At stake is the chief minister's post which the party with the more seats will get if the alliance is voted to power.
For the Shiv Sena, this could be Mr Thackeray's best shot at becoming Chief Minister. His son Aditya Thackeray tweeted, "Under the leadership of Uddhav ji, we will build the Maharashtra of Balasaheb's dreams- progressive, safe, prosperous!"
He also said, "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."
The split will trigger massive realignment ahead of the Maharashtra polls. The rival Congress-led alliance is also on the verge of splitting, with strong indications that Sharad Pawar's NCP or Nationalist Congress Party is in touch with the BJP.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
