Saturday, July 9 2005 11:42 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: BJP yesterday (July 8, 2005) reiterated its support to its alliance partner, Shiv Sena led by Bal Thackeray in the ongoing tussle between the party and the expelled leader Narayan Rane.

"We are with the Bal Thackeray-led Shiv Sena," senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde told reporters here.

State BJP chief Nitin Gadkari had made efforts for a patch up between Rane and Thackeray, he said. Going by the response received by Gadkari, it was unlikely that there would be patch up between Rane and Thackeray, he added.

The BJP leader said that they hoped the strength of Shiv Sena remains 62 after Rane's expulsion from the party.

However, he refused to reply on possibility of BJP staking claim for the post of Leader of Opposition if the Sena's strength goes down in the Lower House of Maharashtra legislature.

Munde also said that he has so far not received the official invitation from Rane for the meeting of opposition called before the start of session.