Click to play videoMumbai: Shiv Sena in Maharashtra has decided to break its alliance with the BJP in the state.
The decision was taken at a meeting at Shiv Sena supremo, Bal Thackeray's residence, Matoshree on Wednesday evening.
Shiv Sena and BJP locked horns over the issue of by-elections in Chimur.
Both the parties had announced that they would be contesting the elections and each made it clear that they would not backtrack from their decision.
The meeting was attended by Shiv Sena leaders Uddhav Thackeray, Sanjay Raut and Manohar Joshi apart from Bal Thackeray.
Shiv Sena's Sanjay Rout said that the party was not breaking the alliance, but that it was the BJP which was responsible for the break up.
"We are not trying to put pressure on the BJP. It is senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari who is responsible for the souring of alliance," Raut added.
Raut also said that Chimur was a matter of prestige to Shiv Sena. He also said that the reputation of the party was at stake and thus the 20-year alliance was being called off.
"The Chimur seat traditionally belongs to the Shiv Sena candidate and only a Shiv Sena candidate must stand for for it," Raut stated.
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