BJP, Shiv Sena announce alliance in Maharashtra

Maharashtrs Chief Minister Devendra FadnavisThe BJP and its estranged partner Shiv Sena on Thursday decided to join hands once again in Maharashtra.

Both the parties held a joint press conference in Mumbai and declared their patch-up.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the Shiv Sena will get 12 portfolios in the Cabinet expansion.

"The state Cabinet will be expanded on Friday to include the Shiv Sena ministers," he said.

Senior Shiv Sena leader Subhash Desai said that the two parties have decided to come together again and run a stable government in the state.

The Shiv Sena which had been demanding the post of the deputy chief minister and crucial Home Ministry had toned down the demand and is now ready to settle for other ministerial posts.

The two parties split on September 15, just three weeks before the Maharashtra Assembly elections which threw up a fractured verdict in the 288-member legislature last month.

The BJP emerged as the single largest party with 123 but effectively 122 due to the death of a legislator, the Sena claimed 63 seats, the Congress with 42, Nationalist Congress Party with 41, and the remaining 18 seats going to Independents and smaller parties.