BJP president Amit Shah meets Uddhav Thackeray

Mumbai, Jun 18: BJP president Amit Shah on Sunday met Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray at the latter's residence in suburban Bandra. Shah, along with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, visited Thackeray's residence 'Matoshree' and held a close-door meeting. The meeting which started at around 10 am lasted for nearly 75 minutes.

The meeting comes a day after the BJP chief, who is here on a three-day visit to strengthen the party organisation in the state, said his party would consult its allies before finalising the NDA's presidential candidate.

Shiv Sena, which has often been critical of the BJP and the Modi government, recently suggested the name of M S Swaminathan, the father of India's Green Revolution, as its presidential choice. The Shiv Sena had earlier said it may choose an "independent" path in the election to the highest constitutional office. It had backed Congress nominees -- Pratibha Patil and Pranab Mukherjee -- in the last two presidential elections.

Asked about Fadnavis' remark that the BJP was prepared for snap Assembly election, in an apparent reference to continued strain in ties with the Shiv Sena, Shah earlier said, "What he meant was that if mid-term polls are forced on us, we are ready to fight."

On the recent farm loan waiver announced by the Maharashtra government, Shah had said through it the state was offering relief to the farmers. "The burden of loan waiver will be on the government and not banks," he had said.

PTI