Sena cousins refuse to make up

A patch-up between the two warring Thackeray cousins appeared distant today, with both sticking to their guns on the crisis in the Shiv Sena following the resignation of Raj from party positions.

Senior party leaders Manohar Joshi and Sanjay Raut continued their efforts for a rapprochement by holding talks with Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray and Raj, who had raised the banner of revolt, but things have hardly moved forward, Sena sources said.

Sena leaders, including Joshi, Leeladhar Dake, Dattaji Nalawade, Ramdas Kadam, Subhash Desai and Sena trade union leader Suryakant Mahadik, thronged Matoshree "" Sena chief Bal Thackeray's residence.

They were understood to have discussed the situation following Raj's resignation with the Sena supremo. Joshi told reporters that "we have spoken to both Balasaheb Thackeray and Uddhav on the issue of Raj. We are yet to arrive at a solution."

After yesterday's war of words, the two cousins chose to maintain silence and avoided the media.