BJP's talks with Munde collapse, Congress denies it's on standby

New Delhi: The BJP seems to be skating towards a split in Maharashtra, courtesy Gopinath Munde. Mediators assigned to broker peace between Mr Munde and party president Nitin Gadkari say talks have broken down. Adding to the BJP's unease are reports that Mr Munde has been privately talking to Congress leaders. The Congress has denied that it has offered to be Mr Munde's new address, but nobody really seems convinced.

Senior leaders of the BJP met this evening at LK Advani's Delhi residence to strategise against the threat Munde poses. He is a popular leader in Maharashtra, one who feels he has been sidelined by BJP President Nitin Gadkari. Mr Munde said last week that what disappointed him most was that his party did not respond when he made his differences known over key positions in Maharashtra being given to candidates that are Mr Gadkari's supporters. While stressing that he does not want to harm the BJP, Mr Munde managed to slip in the fact that several parties "are fond" of him. (Watch: Disappointed with my leaders, says BJP's Gopinath Munde) 

Mr Munde spent the weekend in Delhi receiving emergency care from his party. However, the turf war between Mr Gadkari and Mr Munde remained unresolved, say sources. The BJP has called a meeting tomorrow in Mumbai - the party's MPs from Maharashtra will meet with MLAs. Senior leaders will also fly down from Delhi to gauge the local mood.

Mr Munde is an Other Backward Castes leader (OBC) in his home state. His brother-in-law Pramod Mahajan, who was shot a few years ago, and Mr Munde are credited with helping the BJP to grow into a formidable force in Maharashtra.