India, Dec. 7 -- After a verbal war over poaching each other's leaders ahead of the local body elections, deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde and state BJP chief Ravindra Chavan shared the dais at a public function in Dombivali on Saturday.

The development could signal a thaw between the Shiv Sena and BJP after a bitter battle over poaching reached the BJP leadership in Delhi. Relations between the two parties sank so low that street fights had erupted in some places. Insiders say a meeting has been planned between chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Shinde.

But, on Saturday, it was Shinde and Chavan who shared space, at a groundbreaking ceremony for a sports complex in Dombivali. Sena leader and industries minister Uday Samant as well...