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Sena-BJP alliance to stake claim today

Syed Firdaus Ashraf in Bombay

The week-long impasse between the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance has finally ended with both of them deciding to meet Governor P C Alexander jointly, burying their differences over the chief ministership. The BJP has agreed to the chief ministership of Narayan Rane.

Hectic parleys were held between Sena chief Bal Thackeray and senior BJP leaders including Union Parliamentary Affairs and Water Resources Minister Pramod Mahajan and Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde at 'Matorshri', the residence of the Sena chief in Bombay late last night. The Sena chief had cut short his Karjat visit to resume talks with the BJP leaders.

As a result of the successful talks, Chief Minister Narayan Rane and Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde will jointly meet the governor this morning to stake the claim to form the government, said BJP spokesperson Prakash Jawadekar.

Meanwhile, the National Congress Party has still not made up its mind to support the Congress.

Sources said the NCP was yet to receive a letter from the Congress offering the former the speaker's post besides several key ministries.

''Only on receipt of the letter would we confirm our support,'' said the NCP source confirming that the two parties are meeting again today to thrash out the differences.

In another development, the governor has invited the Sena, BJP and Congress for a meeting today to discuss ways of forming the new government.

Additional reportage: UNI

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