Mumbai: As the political stalemate in Maharashtra over formation of new government entered 14th day on Thursday, Shiv Sena held a meeting of its newly elected legislators which was addressed by party chief Uddhav Thackeray at his residence Matoshree in Bandra, while, the BJP headed to meet the Governor of the state.

After the meeting, the Sena MLAs were taken to Rang Sharda Hotel in Bandra West, fearing poaching by the BJP.   Their phones may also be taken, sources revealed.

The MLAs will be lodged in the five-star hotel until the political slugfest over power-sharing settles down.

The party will be holding a press conference at 3:30 pm.

After the meeting, a Sena legislator said that the decision of  party chief Uddhav Thackeary would be accepted by all the MLAs. Another MLA asserted that nobody can break the MLAs of Shiv Sena.

After Shiv Sena’s meeting, BJP Maharashtra unit president Chandrakant Patil and senior party leader Sudhir Mungantiwar will meet Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, along with other senior leaders at 2 pm.

Watch: Shiv Sena fears losing support of its 56 MLAs, likely to send them to a hotel



Raut denies shifting of MLAs:

Sena leader Sanjay Raut had earlier denied the reports of shifting of MLAs to hotel and said "there is no need for us to do this, our MLAs are firm in their resolve and committed to the party. Those who are spreading such rumours should worry about their MLAs first."

Addressing a presser, he then asserted that the new CM will be from his party Shiv Sena. He said that the party which proves majority will only form the government.

The deadlock: 

The tenure of the present Assembly ends in two days and a special three-day session of the House may be convened next week to swear in the new MLAs.

The BJP and the Sena are locked in a standoff over the post of chief minister in new government and sharing of ministerial portfolios.

In the recent assembly polls, the BJP emerged as the single largest party by winning 105 seats in the 288-member House. The Sena won 56.

Claiming that the BJP had agreed to a "50-50" formula on power sharing in the state, the Sena has demanded that the top seat should be shared between the two.

Meanwhile, NCP leader Pawar has said on Wednesday that the mandate for his party and its ally Congress is to sit in opposition. It is for the BJP-Sena to form the government, he added.