Allies talk: Andhra Pradesh CM calls Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray

The phone call between the two leaders assumes significance as Thackeray’s party is a key constituent of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

A day after Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu threatened to reconsider ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he called Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday.

Shiv Sena, led by Uddhav Thackeray, has already declared it will be contesting the 2019 elections independently. (HT File)

The phone call between the two leaders assumes significance as Thackeray’s party is a key constituent of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and has already announced it will contest the 2019 elections independently, without an alliance with the BJP.

The conversation between the two leaders has managed to raise eyebrows in the political circles. The BJP’s biggest ally in the south, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) headed by Naidu, is disappointed over the Union Budget.

“It is nothing new; leaders keep talking to each other. The call lasted 10 minutes and they discussed the political scenario in India ,” said a senior Sena leader.