Is BJP inching closer to Shiv Sena?

Is the hope of a breakthrough with the Shiv Sena getting brighter for the BJP?

It appears that the BJP is inching closer to strike up a deal with the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra. Two days ago, Union Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy, who was BJP's Maharashtra in-charge, hoped that something good will emerge out of the talks between the two parties.

On Saturday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said it has been a friend of BJP and the two parties will remain friends in the future. He voiced confidence that there would be a breakthrough.

Fadnavis, however, said the RSS was not mediating between Shiv Sena and BJP, who parted ways just ahead of the Assembly polls due to differences over seat-sharing.
On the confidence vote, the Maharashtra Chief Minister said, I have never faced so much criticism in 22 years of my political life as much I faced in the three days after facing no confidence motion.