Bharatiya Janata Party today ended its 25-year association with Shiv Sena ahead of crucial October 15 Maharashtra assembly elections.

With this, the longest political alliance in the country has come to an end. Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, BJP state unit chief Devendra Phadanvis announced the split.

Phadanvis also informed that other three allies of the grand alliance – Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatna, Rashtriy Samaj Paksh and Shivsangram party are with BJP and he will also hold discussions with Republican Party of India to get on board.

Citing the reasons behind the split, Devendra Phadnvis and leader of the opposition in state assembly, Eknath Khadase said, due to firm stand of Shiv Sena over seat sharing, it had become difficult to accommodate aspirations of BJP and smaller allies of the alliance.

Khadse also said that Shiv Sena's demand of chief ministerial post was another major hurdle in the path of six party grand alliance.

BJP leaders, however made it clear that although the alliance has came to an end, they do not want bitterness with Shiv Sena.

Minutes after BJP announced its decision to part ways with Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party too declared snapping ties with Congress and also announced to quit from the state government.

NCP leaders Prafull Patel and Ajit Pawar announced this in a press conference in Mumbai, a short while ago. With this, all political equations have changed in Maharashtra, ahead of the October 15 Assembly elections.