"Ours is not a political alliance, it is a time-tested friendship": PM Modi on meeting with Shiv Sena MPs

New Delhi [India], July 2 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met the newly elected Shiv Sena MPs in New Delhi.
PM Modi affirmed that the alliance between the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is not merely a political alliance but a time-tested friendship.
The Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)-Ajit Pawar MPs congratulated Narendra Modi on taking the oath as Prime Minister for a third consecutive term following the Lok Sabha polls.
Taking to 'X', PM Modi wrote, "Had a great meeting with Shiv Sena MPs. Ours is not a political alliance--it is a time-tested friendship, bound together by common ideals and a shared vision for India's development."
He further lauded Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena Chief Eknath Shinde, stating that the latter is working tirelessly for the state's progress.
"It is commendable how Shri @mieknathshinde Ji is working tirelessly for Maharashtra's progress and to fulfil the great Balasaheb Thackeray Ji's ideals," he tweeted.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Modi discussed development work in Maharashtra, while the Shiv Sena MPs raised various issues concerning the state with the Prime Minister.
The delegation presented PM Modi with a statue of Vitthal Rakhumai.
The Prime Minister held discussions with the MPs for half an hour, encouraging them to play a positive and active role in Parliament.
In the Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra, the Mahayuti alliance, which consists of the BJP, the Shiv Sena, and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)-Ajit Pawar, secured a total of 17 seats.
The BJP's seats in Maharashtra decreased to nine from 23 in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls while the vote share stood at 26.18 per cent.
The Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) won seven and one seats, respectively.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister also met with newly elected MPs of the Jana Sena Party, which is part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

"Met MPs from @JanaSenaParty. I have been working with Shri @PawanKalyan Garu for many years now and I am amazed by his tenacity and passion for public service. I am sure JSP will always be at the forefront of serving society and contributing to India's progress", PM Modi wrote on 'X'.
The Jana Sena fought the Lok Sabha polls in alliance with the BJP and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) wherein, the Jana Sena bagged two seats, the BJP three and the TDP 16, taking the total tally of the NDA to 21 out of 25 seats.
The alliance also swept the Andhra Pradesh assembly polls, after which TDP Chief Chandrababu Naidu was sworn in as the Chief Minister with Jana Sena Chief and actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan taking the charge as the Deputy CM. (ANI)