Aaditya Thackeray meets Shiv Sena MLAs at hotel amid the power tussle

Amidst the impasse between BJP and Shiv Sena, Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray met newly-elected party MLAs at a hotel in Mumbai early on Friday. Aaditya arrived late on Thursday night at Hotel Rangsharda, where the Shiv Sena MLAs are staying to avert poaching attempts and left about 1 am on Friday. Aaditya, who won from the Worli constituency is projected as the next Maharashtrian Chief Minister by party leaders.

As per sources, the MLAs will be staying at the hotel for the next two days that are considered very crucial for government formation. They were shifted to the hotel after a meeting with Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray at his residence 'Matoshree'. Shiv Sena, which fought the election with BJP, is not ready to settle for anything less than an equal share in Cabinet portfolios and the Chief Minster's post for 2.5 years.

READ: Shiv Sena remains adamant on CM post, amid Maharashtra deadlock

However, amid the uncertainty between the two parties, the saffron alliance has been nettled the constant jibe by Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut. Ever since the poll results, Raut has been making several statements targeting the BJP and reiterating the demand for the Chief Minister post.  Earlier on Thursday, addressing a press conference, Sena's Sanjay Raut put forth the views of party president Uddhav Thackeray and claimed that the fight is for 'truth and lie.' 

READ: Sanjay Raut claims Shiv Sena has an 'alternative' amid tussle with BJP

BJP-SS power tussle

The Maharashtra assembly election was conducted on October 21. While BJP contested from 150 constituencies, it left only 124 seats for its ally Shiv Sena. However, the results declared on October 24 threw up a surprise with the alliance not faring as well as expected. The tally of the BJP came down to 105, from 122 seats which they had won in the 2014 election. Sena too won from only 56 constituencies. Though the BJP-Sena alliance has a comfortable majority, a tussle has been going on over the CM’s post. Both sides have been welcoming the support of Independents to leverage their individual position.

READ: Shiv Sena to BJP: 'Blackmail won't work'; reminds of pre-poll promises

READ: BJP leaders miffed with Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut: Sources

(With Inputs from ANI)