By SUNIL Sonkar

Mumbai, Feb. 07 — Sharad Pawar, Union Agriculture Minister and NCP president, on Sunday night met Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray at ‘Matoshree’, residence of Thackeray, in the suburban Bandra.

The meeting of the two senior leaders at held apparently to discuss Shiv Sena’s opposition to inclusion of Australian and Pakistani players in the Indian Premier League, which created ripples in state political circles because both the parties are in an uneasy partnership with their allies, Congress and BJP respectively.

Shashank Manohar, President of BCCI also accompanied Sharad Pawar in he meeting.

Shiv Sena is vociferously opposed for new separate state Vidabha that is also baccked by ally BJP and Sharad Pawar, over price rise, has come under flak from Congress leaders.

About possible political realignment in Maharashtra it may be too early to term, but the meeting will surly upset allies of both the parties.

A senior NCP leader said, “The meeting, in many ways, sent a signal that neither the Congress nor the BJP can take their allies for granted.”