Aaditya Thackeray Meets Shiv Sena MLAs As Clock Ticks On Nov 9 Deadline

The Shiv Sena, which fought the election with the BJP, is not ready to settle for anything less than an equal share in cabinet portfolios and the chief minister's post for 2.5 years.

Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray outside Mumbai's Rangsharda Hotel.

Mumbai: As the BJP and the Shiv Sena are locked in an intense tug-of-war over the issue of the chief minister's post, Aaditya Thackeray met newly-elected party MLAs at a hotel here early on Friday. Aaditya arrived late on Thursday night at Hotel Rangsharda, where the MLAs are lodged to prevent poaching attempts and left about 1 am on Friday. The Worli MLA-elect has been projected as the next chief minister by party leaders. The MLAs will be staying at the hotel for the next two days that are considered very crucial for the government formation as the term of the incumbent government ends today. They were shifted to the hotel after a meeting with Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray at his residence "Matoshree". WATCH: 'Not Returning to Maharashtra Politics': Gadkari Backs Fadnavis For Second Term The Shiv Sena, which fought the election with the BJP, is not ready to settle for anything less than an equal share in cabinet portfolios and the chief minister's post for 2.5 years. The BJP has emerged as the single largest party by winning 105 seats in the recently held Assembly polls. Hectic parleys are expected today as Maharashtra's incumbent Assembly's term is getting over on November 9. The Shiv Sena got 56 seats in the 288-member Assembly. (With additional information from ANI)