Confident Shiv Sena rejects BJP's advances

A day after the BJP's overtures to the Shiv Sena for a pre-poll alliance, Sena leaders spurned the offer. State industries minister and senior Shiv Sena leader Subhash Desai said the Sena would contest the elections on their own merit and come to power single-handedly.

"They are trying to wean the Shiv Sena to their side... the Shiv Sena is moving firmly and is confident of coming to power on its own," said Desai while speaking at a program in Navi Mumbai.

Referring to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis tributes to late Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray for his commitment to Hindutva, Desai noted that this showed it was not possible to hold a program in Mumbai without referring to the Sena supremo.

On Friday, BJP national president Amit Shah said they sincerely wished that the Shiv Sena allied with the BJP for the upcoming elections. He was speaking at a press conference in Mumbai on the BJP's 38th Foundation Day. In an indication that the BJP was eager to patch up with the Shiv Sena, BJP leader and state revenue minister Chandrakantdada Patil, while speaking at a rally earlier the same day, had lashed out at NCP leader and former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar for his comments against its estranged ally.

The BJP has already deputed finance and forests minister Sudhir Mungantiwar to negotiate a pre-poll understanding with the Shiv Sena, which has announced it will contest all future elections sans an alliance.