BJP-Sena yet to seal poll pact; no joint press meet on Tuesday

The BJP and Shiv Sena are yet to conclude their seat-sharing talks for the October 21 assembly elections in Maharashtra and there will be no announcement about a formal pre-poll pact on Tuesday, leaders from both parties said on Monday night.

The late night development came hours after a senior BJP leader, on condition of anonymity, said the two saffron allies have finalised a seat-sharing arrangement and a formal announcement will be made at a joint press meet on Tuesday.

The press meet here was to be addressed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, the BJP leader had said in the evening.

However, the Sena did not confirm holding such a joint media conference with the BJP when contacted by PTI.

Later in the night, senior Sena leader Anil Parab told PTI, No such announcement will take place on Tuesday. The decision of the BJP-Sena (on seat-sharing) will be announced once the talks are over.

Parab is also leader of the house in the ...