Mumbai, November 18: A day after claiming that he has been assured by BJP president Amit Shah of a rapprochement with former ally Shiv Sena in the near future, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale said the latter is still open to form an NDA government in Maharashtra. The patch-up between Sena and BJP is on the cards if the chief ministerial post is shared with "3:2 formula". BJP, Sena Will Come Together to Form Government in Maharashtra, Amit Shah Told Me: Athawale.

Athawale, who heads one faction of the Republican Party of India - a constituent of the BJP-led Mahayuti in Maharashtra, is playing a mediator between the warring saffron camps in a bid to mend the fences. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Athawale said the Sena is ready to reconsider its decision to leave NDA if the BJP offers the Maharashtra CM post for two years.

"I had talked to (Shiv Sena MP) Sanjay Raut ji about a compromise. I suggested him a formula of 3 years (CM from BJP) and 2 years (CM from Shiv Sena) to which he said that if BJP agrees then Shiv Sena can think about it. I will discuss this with BJP," Athawale said.

Update by ANI

On Monday, Athawale had raised concerns over Sena's exit at the NDA meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The RPI(A) leader claimed that he was assured by Amit Shah of both the Hindutva allies bridging their differences in the near future.

"I told Amit bhai that if he mediates then a way can be found out to which he (Amit Shah) replied 'don't worry, everything will be fine. BJP and Shiv Sena will come together to form government'," Athawale said.

The 30-year-old BJP-Sena alliance was snapped on November 8, a day after then Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Sena supremo Uddhav Thackeray traded heated verbal jibes at each other. Subsequently, the lone Minister from Sena in the Modi government, Arvind Sawant, send his resignation to the President.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 18, 2019 06:17 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).