Chembur engineer Niraj Gunde is the glue that patched the Sena-BJP deal. Unlike earlier times, when second-rung leaders from the two camps discussed seat sharing, the pact this time is said to have been struck directly between Uddhav Thackeray and CM Fadnavis, with Gunde as the go-between.

Over the past few weeks, whenever senior leaders from the two parties (for instance, BJP state President Chandrakant Patil or Sena leaders like Anil Desai), were asked about seat-sharing, the common refrain has been that the CM and Thackeray will decide, and announce, the alliance. Sources close to Matoshree said Gunde, who has access to the CM, has made several visits to Thackeray residence and "no one has been privy to the Thackeray-Gunde meetings."