Maharashtra government formation: Shiv Sena approaches NCP, Congress, breaks 30-year-old ties with BJP

The BJP and the Sena, long-term allies for more than 25 years, won a majority together in last month's Maharashtra elections. The BJP won 105 seats and the Sena 56, which placed them comfortably ahead of the majority mark of 145 in the 288-member assembly. However, the Sena refused to form a government with the BJP without an agreement, in writing, that it would have the chief minister's post for half the term and an equal share in ministries, in what it called a "50:50" deal discussed with BJP chief Amit Shah.