MUMBAI, July 13 -- Days after Sharad Pawar's visit to deputy chief minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde's office in Vidhan Bhavan, HT has now learnt that senior NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil has told MLAs of the party that joining the BJP-led NDA may be the best available option before the party. According to party insiders, Patil recently held a meeting during which he conveyed the leadership's message to the MLAs and sought to explain why such a move might be necessary. "We were told that the best option for the party's survival was to join the BJP as an ally. If that materialises, we could become part of the governments in Maharashtra and at the Centre," said an NCP (SP) MLA. P4...