Shiv Sena leaders in Delhi for discussions with BJP on Maharashtra government formation: reports

New Delhi: Two Shiv Sena leaders — Anil Desai and Subhash Desai — are reportedly in Delhi to hold talks with senior BJP leaders over the government formation in Maharashtra.

If the first round of talks are positive, Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray may also visit Delhi today or tomorrow to take the talks forward.

Senior BJP leader and Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari had admitted on Tuesday that the BJP has begun talks with Shiv Sena on government formation.

The BJP had earlier deferred the visit to Mumbai of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to oversee the selection and election of a chief ministerial candidate. Now, the BJP has said that Rajnath Singh will go to Mumbai after Diwali.

Apart from the Shiv Sena, the BJP has offers of support from Independents and the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

BJP had won 122 seats in the 288-member State Assembly, falling short of the majority mark by 23 seats. Sena has 63 seats while NCP has 41.