BMC removes 'Maha CM only Aaditya Thackeray' posters outside Matoshree

While the BJP-Shiv Sena tussle continues over the next government, the Shiv Sena-led Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), on Thursday removed the posters of Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray put up outside Matoshree reading 'CM Maharashtra only Aditya Thackeray'. Incidentally, BJP too had put up posters claiming Devendra Fadnavis as the next CM, right next to Shiv Sena's poster. The Shiv Sena has constantly demanded that Aaditya Thackeray be made the next Chief Minister and has refused to budge from the 50:50 formula.

BMC removes 'CM Maharashtra only Aaditya Thackeray' posters

READ | Thackeray & Fadnavis posters side-by-side; Sena-BJP CM fight escalates

BJP-Shiv Sena poster war

Visuals show the officials of BMC, now known as Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) removing posters of Aaditya Thackeray. Earlier on Tuesday, two huge posters by Shiv Sena claiming the Thackeray scion, Aaditya to be the future Chief Minister emerged in Mumbai. This was put up right next to it the BJP placed a big poster claiming another term for Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, amid the escalating conflict between the two.

WATCH | Sanjay Raut meets Sharad Pawar after Cong-NCP discuss Sena alliance

Recent political BJP-Sena developments

Earlier in the day, Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut met NCP chief Sharad Pawar at his Mumbai residence and discussed the politics in Maharashtra, while a Sena-delegation met with the governor to talk about flood issues. Prior to this meeting, top Congress leaders met with Sharad Pawar to discuss a possible alliance with Shiv Sena. Meanwhile, Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut has reiterated that the Sena will accept only the 50:50 formula, as 7 more Independent MLAs extended their support to Sena on Wednesday.

Similarly, Shiv Sena Supremo Uddhav Thackeray too has echoed similar sentiments at the Sena MLAs meeting on Wednesday, amid growing calls for Worli MLA Aaditya Thackeray to become the next CM. But the Chief Minister has reaffirmed that the BJP-Shiv Sena 'Mahayuti' will form the government in Maharashtra, with the BJP reportedly offering 13 cabinet portfolios to Sena while keeping 26 for its ministers. BJP chief Amit Shah is expected to arrive in Mumbai on Friday or Saturday to decide on portfolios and govt. formation.

WATCH | Aaditya Thackeray mum on govt formation: 'Uddhavji's word is final'

Poll results in Maharashtra

The saffron alliance swept Maharashtra on October 24, winning a combined tally of 161 (BJP- 105, Sena -56) to award CM Devendra Fadnavis a second term. But the comeback of the 'Maha- Agadhi' alliance (NCP-Congress) took the Mahayuti by surprise as the NCP bagged 54 seats while the languishing Congress too bagged 44 seats. Though the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance will form the next government, it was handed a diminished mandate compared to 2014 where it won 185 seats.

WATCH | Shiv Sena refuses to back down from CM post, 50:50 power-share demands