A file photo of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray (left) and BJP’s Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. “One, he perhaps wanted to send out a signal to a section of Shiv Sena legislators which wants to break away from the party. “There has been a shift of grassroots from Congress, NCP, and Shiv Sena towards the BJP in the last three-four years. In the 288-member Maharashtra assembly, the BJP has 122 members followed by Shiv Sena (63), Congress (42), and NCP (41). A Shiv Sena functionary, who requested anonymity, dismissed the claim about talks with Congress-NCP, saying it was a BJP ploy to malign Shiv Sena.

Source: Mint January 24, 2018 21:45 UTC