No celebrations over Uddhav Thackeray resignation, says rebel camp spokesman Deepak Kesarkar

Rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, meanwhile, Thursday left for Mumbai from Goa. On his way to the airport, Shinde told reporters that he will be meeting the Maharashtra Governor. Sources in the BJP also told that Shinde will be meeting Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis. Meanwhile, the rebel MLAs have stayed put in Goa, where they arrived on Wednesday following Uddhav Thackeray’s resignation.

Tweeting Thursday morning, Shinde stated that they had not held a discussion with BJP on ministerial posts yet, but are likely to do so soon. “Till then, don’t believe any rumours,” he added. Top leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) huddled into a meeting Wednesday at a five-star hotel in south Mumbai to strategise their next move. Top BJP leaders from Maharashtra will hold a meeting on Thursday to finalise their next course of action. He added that BJP will stake a claim for the formation of the new government under the leadership of Devendra Fadnavis, backed by the Eknath Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena, which comprises 39 rebel MLAs, and Independents.