Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi — intending to resolve issues between Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — has invited the former’s chief, Uddhav Thackeray, for a dinner in Delhi.
Other National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners would also be present for the event, which is expected to take place next week.
BJP sources said this would revive the relationship of the NDA allies, which has been going through a rough patch in Maharashtra.
Mr Modi himself is going to host the dinner, sources said, adding that the PM wants the Sena to co-operate with his government on all fronts.
The sources also said Mr Modi would discuss the President’s election with Mr Thackeray and seek his support for the poll.
Meanwhile, against the backdrop of news reports about mid-term polls in the state, finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar will meet Mr Thackeray on March 29 to discuss the possibility of the two parties forming an alliance.
The BJP in its core committee meeting on Thursday discussed the Sena’s pressure tactics and also looked at the possibility of mid-term polls in the state in order to get a majority and form a fresh government.
Sources in the BJP said that the party is upset with the Sena exerting pressure on it in the Legislative Assembly.
