The Shiv Sena and BJP in Maharashtra will jointly fight Lok Sabha polls in the state, with differences between the saffron partners over seat-sharing and swapping of some constituencies being resolved.
While BJP will contest 26 seats, the Sena will field candidates from 22 constituencies like in the 2004 Lok Sabha polls, BJP sources said.
All the issues have been resolved and a formal announcement is likely later today, they said.
The development follows a meeting of senior state leaders of the two parties which ended around midnight.
It was decided at the meeting that Sena would contest Mumbai South, Washim-Yavatmal and Kalyan seats while BJP would contest Bhiwandi and Jalgaon seats, the sources said.
Sena plans to field sitting MP Mohan Rawle from Mumbai South.
A formal announcement on seat-sharing between the two parties is likely to be made this evening in presence of Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray and state BJP President Nitin Gadkari, the sources said.