Clearing the air: Modi reaches out to Uddhav

Mumbai, March 12: The BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi telephoned

chief

on Tuesday night to reassure him that the alliance between BJP and Shiv Sena remained strong and would contest the polls together, BJP sources said.

Modi's move comes after the Shiv Sena made indirect threats of snapping ties with BJP.

Earlier the day, State BJP president Devendra Fadnavis and party general secretary Rajiv Pratap Rudy visited Uddhav Thackeray to mitigate his apprehensions of a secret pact between the BJP and the MNS.

Modi's move comes after the Shiv Sena made threats of snapping ties with BJP

Thackeray had demanded an explanation from the BJP after MNS leader and Uddhav's rival Raj Thackeray declared his support for Modi.

"Are you willing to take support from the party which will be contesting against you? Is there no difference between you and Arvind Kejriwal who took the support of the Congress to form the government in Delhi?" Thackeray said.

"I can take any decision at any time", added Uddhav, in a veiled threat to BJP. "Is this a television show? Are we going to do anything just to gain power?", he asked BJP leadership.

BJP leader Nitin Gadkari had met MNS chief Raj Thackeray last week to request him not to contest the elections to avoid splitting the Maratha vote. Subsequently, on Sunday, Raj Thackeray declared that his party would contest the elections but support Modi as Prime Minister.

"The BJP leadership must also clarify who is handling the party activities in Maharashtra. I am waiting to hear from Rajnath Singh," Uddhav asked, referring to Nitin Gadkari.

Replying to Uddhav, Rudy said, "Sena is our oldest and most trusted ally. We will face the elections together." He made it clear that apart from Mr. Fadnavis no person is authorised to take any decision in Maharashtra".