Amid strained ties with Sena, Nitin Gadkari meets Maharashtra BJP leaders

Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari tonight met members of state BJP's core committee here discussing the situation arising out of the stalemate in the party's seat-sharing talks with ally Shiv Sena for Mahararashtra assembly elections to be held next month.

The meeting was held at the Worli residence of Gadkari here and was attended by state BJP chief Devendra Fadanvis, leader of opposition in the legislative assembly Eknath Khadse, leader of opposition in the legislative council Vinod Tawde and senior leader Sudhir Mungantiwar.

Earlier, the state BJP leaders met party president Amit Shah on the sidelines of a function at a city hotel organised by state BJP treasurer Shaina N C's father and former Mumbai sheriff Nana Chudasama.

The 25-year-old alliance of Shiv Sena and BJP has come under strain following BJP's announcement that seat-sharing talks had stopped as of now following Sena president Uddhav Thackeray's remarks `against' Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Uddhav reacted saying he had said nothing demeaning against the Prime Minister but he also rejected BJP's demand for 135 seats instead of 117.

There has been a deadlock over seat-sharing between the two parties for sharing the 288 state assembly seats for fighting the elections slated next month.

BJP has told Shiv Sena its intention to contest 135 seats and wants its ally also to contest an equal number of seats, leaving the remaining 18 seats for three allies RPI (A), Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatna and Rashtriya Samaj Paksha. This demand has been rejected by Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray.

The BJP Central Election Committee (CEC) is likely to meet on Saturday and Sunday to decide on its party candidates and it is hoped the issue will be sorted out in a day or two, sources say.