Ruling allies BJP and Shiv Sena on Monday announced seat-sharing arrangement for the Lok Sabha and assembly elections, resolving to contest both elections together. 

"BJP and Shiv Sena have decided to contest both Lok Sabha and state election together. BJP will contest on 25 out of the 48 Lok Sabha seats, whereas Shiv Sena will fight on 23 seats," Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said at a press conference today.

Calling Sena the oldest ally of BJP, Shah said crores of workers of BJP and Shiv Sena wanted the alliance between the two parties.

For the 288-member assembly, BJP and Shiv Sena decided to contest equal number of seats in the election due this year.

The decision to seal the deal was taken after BJP president Amit Shah met Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had met Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai last week, fuelling speculation that the bickering ruling alliance partners in Maharashtra and at the Centre may come together ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. Senior Sena leaders, including Uddhav Thackeray, had been maintaining that the party will contest the polls independently.