This Article is From Nov 22, 2014

Hopeful of Breakthrough in Talks With Shiv Sena: Devendra Fadnavis

Hopeful of Breakthrough in Talks With Shiv Sena: Devendra Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit

New Delhi: Voicing confidence about a breakthrough in talks with Shiv Sena, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said it has been a friend of the BJP and the two parties will remain friends in the future.

"Shiv Sena has always been a friend and in future, we will be friends," Mr Fadnavis said at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit. (Watch the full session here)

The Chief Minister's comment comes two days after Union Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy said something good will emerge from the talks between the two parties. Both parties had parted ways days before the state elections.

Over the last few days, there has been growing pressure from the rank-and-file of both parties to patch up and be part of the ruling alliance in a bid to keep the NCP at a distance.

Mr Fadnavis said the RSS was not mediating between Shiv Sena and BJP, which parted ways just ahead of the Assembly polls due to differences over seat-sharing.

Regarding the confidence vote, the Maharashtra Chief Minister said, "I have never faced so much criticism in 22 years of my political life as much I faced in the three days after facing the no-confidence motion."
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