Decide on alliance before Vice-Presidential poll: Sena to BJP

MUMBAI: In a bid to put pressure on BJP, Shiv Sena on Sunday asked the party to arrive at a decision about their tie-up which is under strain, before the August 10 Vice-Presidential polls.

Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray said that it is up to BJP to take a decision on continuing their 22-year-old alliance in Maharashtra.

The BJP had earlier indicated that they would make their decision by August 15 whether they wanted to continue the tie-up or chart their own course in Maharashtra where Assembly elections are due in 2009.

While BJP-led NDA has announced Najma Heptulla as its candidate for the Vice-President's post, Sena is yet to decide whom to support in the election. The other candidates are Hamid Ansari of UPA and its allies and Rashid Masood of UNPA.

Sena had broken ranks with NDA and supported UPA-Left candidate Pratibha Patil in the July 19 Presidential election, causing fissures in the alliance with BJP.

Uddhav was talking to mediapersons at `Matoshree', the residence of Sena chief Bal Thackeray in suburban Bandra, after his party secured a majority in the elections to control civic transport undertaking BEST following a court order.

The strength of Sena had weakened but the party was back to power and we are very happy about the same, he said.

The Sena-BJP combine controls the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, the richest civic body in the country.