File photo of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray with PM Narendra Modi
Monday morning's edition of Shiv Sena daily Saamna brings the first sign that the party has made peace with the fact that it will now be the junior partner in any alliance with the BJP in Maharashtra.
An editorial in the Saamna today has credited the BJP's strong performance in the state elections to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah. A BJP-led government, it says is "in the interest of Maharashtra" and indicates that it will support anyone that the BJP will pick for chief minister.
Earlier Saamna editorials, published soon after election results were announced in the state had scoffed at the BJP for not having managed to win a clear majority despite the Prime Minister's aggressive election campaign, emphasising that there was no clear mandate for any one party.
The latest editorial says the party is "happy that the BJP will run the state."
The two parties, which split up just before the elections over seat-sharing, have been in talks to renew their alliance, which will help the BJP bridge a gap of 22 seats to reach a majority in the 288-member Maharashtra assembly.
BJP sources have said that the party will go ahead with picking a chief minister and swearing in a new government this week regardless of how the talks with the Shiv Sena shape.
The BJP is not short of options. It has been offered "unconditional" external support by Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party, an offer it has not rejected. The NCP's offer served to snatch from the Shiv Sena any bargaining power that it might have had in talks with the BJP.
The BJP had deferred a decision on government formation in Maharashtra till after the festival of Diwali last week. On Sunday, senior Maharashra BJP leader Vinod Tawde said the leader of the legislature party - who will be chief minister - will be picked by the newly elected party legislators on Tuesday, October 28.
"The BJP wants to bring Shiv Sena into the alliance and form the government. If we come together in our minds then we can discuss portfolios etc," Mr Tawade said, adding talks were in progress.