Advani, Uddhav meet to ease strains in BJP-Sena ties

The senior BJP leader and Shiv Sena executive president hold a meeting aimed at easing strains in ties between the two ideological allies ahead of any possible snap poll.

Senior BJP leader LK Advani and Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday held a meeting aimed at easing strains in ties between the two ideological allies ahead of any possible snap poll.

HT Image

Advani hosted lunch for the Shiv Sena leader at his home in New Delhi as his party has set in motion the process to explore new alliance options and keep the NDA intact for any possible electoral battle for the Lok Sabha.

The Shiv Sena broke ranks with the BJP in presidential elections in July as it voted for UPA-Left candidate Pratibha Patil because of her Maharashtrian origin.

Upset with Uddhav Thackeray's style of functioning, the BJP's Maharashtra unit has instead asked its central leadership to snap ties with the Shiv Sena.

Top leaders of the BJP, which is battling internal feud, however, believe efforts should be made to ease tensions with the Shiv Sena, especially in the light of the apparent row between the Left and the UPA government over the nuclear deal.

In the forefront since the BJP's debacle in the Uttar Pradesh elections, blamed on party chief Rajnath Singh's campaign strategy, Advani has taken the lead in coordinating with NDA partners.

He is also scheduled to meet AIADMK J Jayalalithaa on September 18 in Chennai.

Several Shiv Sena MPs accompanied Thackarey during his meeting with Advani.