With the Shiv Sena occupying the Opposition benches in the Maharashtra Assembly, it is the RSS now that has initiated talks with both - BJP and Shiv Sena - to work out a compromise and thereby ensure the Hindutva parties rework their alliance.

With the Shiv Sena and the BJP threatening to turn into bitter enemies in the Maharashtra Assembly, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has stepped in to attempt a reunion between the estranged partners.

For the past fortnight, Bhagwat has been trying to revive the 25-year-old alliance, which ruptured after the split verdict of the Maharashtra assembly polls. According to this DNA report,Bhagwat is in touch with Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and is hoping to see Sena MLAs in the Maharashtra Cabinet, which is likely to be expanded soon.

Bhagwat spoke to Thackeray on Sunday, when, interestingly, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis was also present in Nagpur, where the RSS is headquartered.

Bhagwat is expected to meet Thackeray on Monday to work out a compromise.

The Sena has officially denied any such move. Its leader Ramdas Kadam, speaking to The Times of India, said: "Our party has decided to sit in the opposition in the assembly. The Sena will not compromise on its self-respect."

However, reports suggest that Thackeray himself had a word with several RSS leaders, asking them to intervene and work out a mutually-acceptable solution.

The RSS too is keen that the BJP align with its old alliance partner instead of being seen as a beneficiary of a tacit partnership with the NCP.

A section of the RSS is reportedly opposed to the idea of the BJP government in Maharashtra surviving with the outside support of the NCP, given that CM Devendra Fadnavis had launched a tirade against several former NCP ministers over alleged scams in the erstwhile Democratic Front government.

The BJP too has said it isn't averse to a patch-up with the Sena with CM Fadnavis himself welcoming the move.

"We have always stated that the BJP is willing for negotiations with the Sena," he told TOI.

With the winter session of the Assembly set to begin in early December, the BJP would want to expand its cabinet by the end of this month, preferably with the Sena on board to ensure it doesn't face problems on the floor of the House.

In the October polls, the BJP emerged as the single-largest party but fell short of a clear majority forcing it to form a minority government in the state with the outside support of the NCP and several other regional parties.

The NCP for its part has already said its support to the BJP government is purely issue-based. A few days ago NCP state unit chief Ajit Pawar had said that the government's survival will depend on its performance.

Given the precarious scenario that the BJP faces after 15 years of being out of power, it comes as little surprise that the party would use any and all means to try and ensure that its government comes as close as possible to lasting a complete term. Even if Bhagwat's attempts at reconciliation fail, it doesn't mean the BJP is done trying to woo the Sena back into an alliance.