There are only two persons, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray, who can end the BEST strike, which, if not called off on Wednesday, will enter its ninth day.

The current political equation between the two parties seems to be dragging the strike, inconveniencing Mumbaikars. Sources close to the CM said he didn't interfere directly in the matter, but left it to the BEST and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) managements and senior Mantralaya officers, because he doesn't want to upset the Sena, which the BJP is wooing, to be part of the alliance for the Lok Sabha elections.