The Shiv Sena on Friday reportedly started back-channel talks with the Congress to explore the possibility of keeping BJP from taking control over the Mumbai municipal corporation, the country's richest civic body.

Indian Express has quoted top sources as saying that Uddhav Thackeray's emissaries had approached the Congress with a proposal for backing Shiv Sena's claim for the city Mayor's post.

They said the Congress, which suffered big jolt in the polls, is considering the option of extending outside support to the Shiv Sena. Sources have also said the Shiv Sena has offered the Deputy Mayor's post to the Congress in lieu of its support.

Civic officials said the Mayor's election will be held on March 9. The floor test for the post is by a show of hands.

Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan convened a meeting of senior party leaders where the Sena's option is said to have been discussed. Former Chief Ministers Sushilkumar Shinde and Narayan Rane; Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam; MP Hussain Dalwai and former Maharashtra ministers Naseem Khan and Balasaheb Thorat attended the meeting.

Congress MLA Abdul Sattar said, "The party will take a call on extending support after receiving a formal proposal from the Shiv Sena. Since the BJP is our principal rival, the party’s state unit will submit a formal proposal to the high command on supporting the Shiv Sena not only in the BMC but in other civic bodies and Zilla Parishads across the state."

BMC election results had delivered a hung verdict. The Shiv Sena won 84 seats in the 227-member corporation while the BJP was a close second with 82 — an almost three-fold surge.