Mumbai: Despite holding parleys with its party leaders and office-bearers, Shiv Sena is still uncertain about whether to form an alliance with the BJP or go solo in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls. The party is sharply divided over the issue and it may take a lot of manoeuvring from the party leadership to come to a final conclusion.

According to party sources, while some party MPs and MLAs are in favour of an alliance with the BJP, organisational office bearers like Sampark Pramukhs are staunchly against the idea of joining hands with the estranged ally. They have been insisting that the party leadership should abide by its January 2018 resolution that it will contest all future elections on its own.

Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray has been holding area-wise review meetings for the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha polls at his residence. Party leaders, Vidhan Sabha Sampark Pramukhs, MPs and MLAs are attending the meetings in which discussions are being held on party strength and potential candidates.

“During the meeting, it is pretty clear that there are differences within party sections on forming an alliance wi-th the BJP. While most Sampark Pramukhs are saying that the party should go it alone notw-ithstanding the pressure tactics from the BJP, most MPs and MLAs are of the opinion that not forming an alliance will hit the party hard,” said an insider.

Sena minister of state for cooperation Gulabr-ao Patil said the party leadership has reviewed poll preparedness in Western Maharashtra, Konkan, Vidarbha and Marathwada regions so far. In addition to this, the party will also take stock of areas like North Maharashtra, Thane-Palghar and Mumbai, he said.