The office-bearer said a consensus has been reached on these issues and the finishing touches are being given to wrap up the alliance.

The saffron alliance is upbeat that it has managed to work out the alliance despite many pressures at the local and central levels, and even before the poll schedules have been announced.

'This will ensure commitment to each other on the part of both the parties and give a much-needed headway in the campaigning process, especially at the grassroots levels,' he explained.

The Shiv Sena-BJP alliance comes even as the ruling Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) dither over their plans to contest the elections jointly.

It is not yet known what strategy Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) would adopt - go alone, ally with one of the two major political groups, or opt for the Third Front.