Uddhav holds meeting with newly-elected Shiv Sena MLAs

Even as the impasse over government formation in Maharashtra continues following a fractured mandate in the Assembly polls, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray today held a meeting with the newly-elected legislators here.

"All the newly elected MLAs met Uddhavji today and they unanimously took a decision to give him the right of choosing the legislative party leader," Sena MP Sanjay Raut said.

The party chief held the meeting at Sena Bhavan, party's headquarters at Dadar in central Mumbai.

On being asked if any decision on extending support to BJP was taken during the meeting, Raut said, "Today's meet was not about the BJP. Therefore, we haven't discussed BJP at all. A final decision will be taken by Uddhavji and conveyed to the media in due course."

Thackeray had on Sunday said that his party would not lend unsolicited support to BJP in forming the government in Maharashtra, saying "let them make the first move".

Raut added, "We want to thank the people for the support they gave us in spite of us fighting all alone in the polls. It will be our endeavour to continue working for Maharashtra's development in the future as well."

Though the Sena improved upon its 2009 poll performance by winning 63 seats in this year's state elections, it fell short of its best performance in the 1995 elections when it had won 73 seats going to the hustings together with BJP and forming a coalition government.

However, BJP's gamble of walking out of the alliance with Sena paid off as it has secured 122 seats in the 288-member Assembly.