Leaders from both parties revealed that there won't be any meeting between BJP president Amit Shah and Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday.
The suspense over the tie-up between the BJP and Shiv Sena continues to get stretched. DNA has learnt that an announcement to this effect will be made on September 29, the first day of Navratri, and not on September 22 as expected earlier. However, this has left the Sena worried as it fears the BJP won't give it much room for negotiation.
Leaders from both parties revealed that there won't be any meeting between BJP president Amit Shah and Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday. It had been speculated that the two leaders would finalise the seat-sharing pact.
Both parties have cited 'Pitru Paksha', considered an inauspicious period, for the delay in firming up the numbers. Shah will be in Mumbai on Sunday to address a 'Jan Jagaran' public meeting organised by the BJP's city unit on abrogation of J&K's special status under Article 370.
Sources said the BJP informed Sena on Saturday afternoon about postponing the talks. It has increased tension in the Sena camp as Uddhav had said on Friday that an announcement would happen in two days keeping in mind his impending meeting with Shah.
A senior Sena minister, who did not want to be identified, told DNA, "The alliance will take place keeping the state's interest on top. The BJP has sent out a message that Shah will not meet our party president on Sunday, but the formal announcement on seat sharing will be made on September 29.'' He hinted that the BJP will simply hand over a list of seats in Sena's quota without any meeting between Shah and Thackeray. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has expressed confidence that talks are progressing amicably between the BJP and Sena. He has said that the two parties would contest the assembly polls together. Echoing Fadnavis, Sena MP Sanjay Raut has said that the BJP-Sena alliance will celebrate Diwali on October 24, the date of the results.
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