Barely 13 months after the Shiv Sena passed a resolution at its national executive to go it alone in all future polls, it made a U-turn by announcing an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday. As per the agreement, the BJP will contest 25 out of the 48 Lok Sabha seats, while the Sena will contest 23.

At a press conference addressed by BJP president Amit Shah, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the parties announced their decision to contest both the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections together.

“Both parties have been together for over 25 years, and even though there have been some misunderstandings in recent times, the original ideology of both parties is the same — Hindutva. At a time when certain parties and individuals are posing a threat to national interests, it is important that parties with national interests should come together. This is the public sentiment and, therefore, we have decided to come together for the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections,” Mr. Fadnavis said.

The Chief Minister said one of the Shiv Sena’s major demands was construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya. “The government has shown its commitment to it by giving 63 acres of undisputed land. It is a matter of national pride,” he said.

Mr. Shah said the alliance would win 45 seats in the State. Though Sena sources said they initially were adamant that the seat sharing for the Maharashtra Assembly be declared together with the Lok Sabha seats, Mr. Fadnavis informed that for the Assembly, our other allies will be given seats based on discussions with them and the remaining seats will be shared on 50:50 basis between the Sena and BJP.

Mr. Fadnavis responding to a question on Sena’s demand of appointing a Sena leader as the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra said that following the results of elections which will be won by the Sena-BJP alliance, the responsibilities would also be shared equally.

In 2014 general elections the BJP had contested 26 of the total 48 seats, and Sena 22. The Sena will get Palghar Lok Sabha from the BJP as an additional one. As both parties failed to reach consensus in the state assembly polls held in the same year, they contested against each other. BJP had contested 260 seats and won 122, while Sena had contested 282 and won 63.

“We both have a history of 30 years but last five years have been rough. However we cannot allow misunderstanding between us to help those parties against whom we fought for 50 years to gain power back,” Uddhav Thackeray. The Sena chief said that with identical ideologies both parties have decided to bury their differences of the past and work with a pure heart and put up a united front.

BJP president Amit Shah said that Sena and Akali Dal were two of the oldest allies of the BJP who have stood by in every situation. “I thank Uddhav ji for showing the big heart and come forward to join hand. We have left the past behind,” he said.

Throughout the day, speculations of announcement of alliance between both the parties had peaked and was confirmed after Mr Shah shortened his Jaipur trip and reached the city by around 5 p.m. Mr Fadnavis arrived in Mumbai from Gadchiroli by 5.50 p.m. Mr. Thackeray, his son Aaditya, Mr. Shah and Mr Fadnavis left from Matoshri for Worli where the press conference was held.

In past few weeks, following the visit of JDU leader Prashant Kishor, the Sena had started giving indications that it will agree to the alliance.

Among the promises that Mr. Fadnavis has made to the Sena include shifting of Nanar Oil Refinery out of Ratnagiri due to opposition from locals, waiving off property tax for houses up to 500 square feet within Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) limits and including more number of farmers in the state’s loan waiver scheme.