Shiv Sena makes fresh offer to BJP

The crisis in the 25-year-old alliance between the Shiv Sena and the BJP deepened further after a final seat-sharing formula offered by the Sena was given the cold shoulder by the latter. On Sunday morning, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray made a final proposal of 119 seats to the BJP, keeping 151 seats for his own party. Smaller alliance partners have been offered 18 seats in total. The offer was made by the Sena chief at a public meeting of party workers in suburban Mumbai. The BJP has, however, insisted on 130 seats — five less than its earlier demand.