Mumbai, November 11: After snapping ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena on Monday staked claim to form the government in Maharashtra. Shiv Sena leaders including Aaditya Thackeray and Eknath Shinde met Governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari in the evening. The Shiv Sena leaders demanded 48 hours time from the governor, which was rejected by him. Earlier, reports surfaced that the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) extended support to the Shiv Sena, but there is no official confirmation from the Sharad Pawar-led party. However, the Congress still remain non-committal on supporting the Sena. HD Deve Gowda Takes Jibe at Congress, Says 'Extend Support to Shiv Sena Only If You Won't Disturb Government Next 5 Years'.

Earlier in the day, reports also claimed that the Congress offered outside support to the Shiv Sena for government formation in Maharashtra. However, the Congress in a letter said that it will decide on supporting the Shiv Sena  only after having discussions with the NCP.

Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray also had a telephonic conversation with Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi on Monaday. Former Maharashtra Chief Ministers Ashok Chavan, Prithiviraj Chavan, and Sushil Kumar Shinde were also present at Gandhi’s residence at the time when she had a telephonic conversation with Uddhav. Maharashtra Government Formation: Congress to Support Shiv Sena After Uddhav Thackeray Dials Sonia Gandhi.

In the morning, Uddhav also held a meeting with NCP chief Sharad Pawar. Earlier in the day, Shiv Sena's sole representative in the Union Cabinet, Arvind Sawant resigned from his post of Minister of State for Industries.  The Uddhav Thackeray-led party was invited by the governor to form the government in the state on Sunday as the single largest party BJP refused to stake claim to the chair.

In the recently concluded assembly elections, the BJP bagged 105 seats, while the Shiv Sena clinched 56 seats. The rift between the saffron party and the Uddhav Thackeray-led party started after the latter demanded an equal power-sharing in the cabinet along with the CM post for 2.5 years. However, the BJP its demand. The Congress and the NCP won 44 and 54 seats respectively.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 11, 2019 07:42 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).