Fadnavis slams Shiv Sena for hinting at 'rift', assures smooth five year tenure

Amid intense mudslinging between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena ahead of BMC polls, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday downplayed the reports of a breakup of the grand saffron alliance in Maharashtra and asserted that the incumbent government will complete its tenure.

Responding to Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut's comment that the Fadnavis Government is running on notice, the Chief Minister said that people who are making such comments are not taken seriously by their own party.

"We don't run on notice, our government will run for five years. And people who are making these comments are are not taken seriously by their own party," said Fadnavis.

Raut yesterday said, "Every political decision has its own time...a 'muhurat'. Sena president Uddhavji Thackeray has announced that we will not have a tie-up with any political party. He has made it clear that the Sena will hereafter be on its own...You must read the political meaning...At this point of time I would only say that the Fadnavis government is on notice," Raut said.

This has sparked speculation in political circles that the Sena may withdraw support to the BJP-led government after the Mumbai civic elections.