BJP, Shiv Sena have no option but to join hands again: Nitin Gadkari on BMC verdict

Mumbai: With Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena finishing neck-to-neck in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday said that both parties have no option but to come together again.

Speaking to a Marathi TV channel. Gadkari said, “there is no option for his party and Shiv Sena, but to come together,” adding that the decision, however, would have to be taken by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray.

"Both are mature and I am sure they will take the right decision," Gadkari asserted.

In the fiercely contested BMC polls, the ruling BJP finished close second to Shiv Sena, while it pulled off a stellar performance in other civic and local bodies polls winning in eight out of the 10 municipal corporations.

While the Shiv Sena emerged on the top with 84 seats, the BJP was a close second at 82, and claiming the support of at least four independents, announced it would stake claim to the key post of Mayor.

Meanwhile, two Independent corporators today joined the Shiv Sena at party president Uddhav Thackeray's residence 'Matoshree', thereby taking its total tally to 86.

Any party or combine requires 114 corporators for a simple majority in the 227-member BMC house.

BJP's core committee meeting is expected to be held in two to three days, where the party's future course of action will be charted out.

Senior Sena leader Manohar Joshi has already said that his party is not considering an alliance with BJP and that the final call will be taken by Thackeray.