Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar. Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar.

Mumbai City BJP chief Ashish Shelar met MNS president Raj Thackeray at his residence on Thursday, fuelling speculation that the BJP was still testing the waters on an alliance before the municipal corporation elections scheduled early next year.

Shelar termed the meeting, which lasted 30 minutes, as “personal” and “not related to politics”. However, the meeting, which was held in public glare, is seen as an attempt by the BJP to test all possibilities before the civic elections.

The Shiv Sena and the BJP had last month announced an alliance to jointly contest the upcoming elections in 212 municipal councils and nagar panchayats slated to be held between November 27 and December 8.

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