Talks with Shiv Sena positive, says Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said that interlocutory talks with Shiv Sena leaders were heading in the right direction insofar as the latter's inclusion in the state government was concerned.

"We are holding talks with the Shiv Sena, the talks so far have been positive. It would be better if no one other than the interlocutors who are meant for the discussion talk to the media," Fadnavis told here at a press conference.

Last week, Fadnavis had said that talks with the Sena would be done by Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan and state minister Chandrakant Patil.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena has been reportedly adamant on taking the deputy chief minister's post and some key portfolios for its leaders before joining the Fadnavis-led BJP government.

Earlier this year, the BJP and the Shiv Sena snapped their 25-year alliance ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly polls over a seat-sharing disagreement. The declaration of the results saw the BJP emerge as the single largest party with 122 seats in the 288-member assembly, yet falling short of achieving absolute majority. The Shiv Sena had finished second with 63 seats.