BJP and Shiv Sena have decided to continue their alliance. In a joint press conference this afternoon, BJP leader Vinod Tawde and Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut clarified that the grand alliance will continue and a new seat sharing formula will be discussed this evening.

A similar battle seems to be brewing in the Congress-NCP alliance as well. NCP has demanded the Chief Minister’s post for half the term.

NCP leaders who met Congress leaders this morning, have put forth this demand along with the demand of contesting an equal number of seats that is 144 out of the total 288 in the Maharashtra assembly.

While the morning meeting between the two parties remained inconclusive, a second round of talk would be held later this evening, to discuss the issue further.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan today asked the BJP to name its Chief Ministerial candidate for the October 15 state assembly polls.

Speaking to reporters in Mumbai today, Mr. Chavan said that the BJP should not seek votes in the name of Narendra Modi as it will be the Chief Minister and not the Prime Minister who will be taking day-to-day decisions in the state.

Mr. Chavan said that the people of Maharashtra will choose a party, it's ideology as well as the party's leader and dared the BJP to declare the name of their leader who will lead the election.

Mr. Chavan's comments come in the backdrop of a tussle over leadership issue between BJP and Shiv Sena with the latter insisting that Uddhav Thackeray would be the chief ministerial face of the alliance.

But till today, the bone of contention between the two parties has been the seat sharing issue.