The BJP, which is expected to file a petition to form the next government in Maharashtra soon after the resignation of Uddhav Thackeray as prime minister, will hold a series of meetings here on Thursday to decide on the next step, in which party party – Charge C T Ravi will remain, party sources said. Ravi, who arrived in Mumbai on Thursday morning, will attend a meeting at the ‘Sagar’ bungalow, the official residence of Opposition Leader Devendra Fadnavis and senior party leaders, including his country chief Chandrakant Patil. The BJP also asked all Members of Parliament to stay in the city of Mumbai until further steps are taken, they said.
Following Thackeray’s resignation on Wednesday night, Chandrakant Patil said Fadnavis and Shiv Sena rebel leader Eknath Shinde, who claims to be backed by 39 rebel legislatures in Sena and 11 independent MPs and minority groups, would decide on the next court.”Although the BJP has 106 members of parliament and supports 10 independent MPs, it will have to hold many sit-in discussions with Senate MPs and rebels. It will take time, but a clear picture will emerge on Friday,” Patil said.
Thackeray resigned after the Supreme Court refused to suspend Governor BS Koshyari from his government to review the constitution in Parliament on Thursday. His resignation coincided with a week-long political drama, in which MP Shiv Sena led Shinde camping in luxury hotels boarding chartered flights from Mumbai to Surat and Guwahati, before arriving in Goa on Wednesday night. Fadnavis is expected to return to the fray as prime minister after holding the post from 2014 to 2019.