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As the political crisis in Maharashtra deepens, beleaguered chief minister Uddhav Thackeray found support from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition. NCP chief Sharad Pawar in Mumbai announced that the MVA will support the CM. "The MVA has decided to back CM Uddhav Thackeray. I believe once the (Shiv Sena) MLAs return to Mumbai, the situation will change," Pawar said.

While he didn't directly name the BJP, but Pawar hinted that the party was behind the current crisis in the state. "Everyone knows how the rebel Shiv Sena MLAs were taken to Gujarat and then Assam. We don't have to take the names of all those assisting them... Assam Government is helping them. I don't need to take any names further," the NCP chief. Himanata Biswa Sarma led-BJP is at the helm in Assam. 

Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde has reached the crucial number of 37 party MLAs as one more legislator reached Guwahati today morning, media reports stated.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra is on the brink of collapse as Shiv Sena minister Eknath Shinde has the support of 37 MLAs, who are currently camping with him in Guwahati. With the magic figure of 37, Shinde is comfortably placed to dodge the anti-defection law and stake claim to form the government with support from the BJP.

Besides these 37 MLAs, Shinde also has the support of nine Independent legislators, who are staying in the same Guwahati hotel. Speaking to News18 on Thursday, Shinde said the rebel camp had the numbers and there was no question of going back on their decision.

Upset that the state Home ministry and Intelligence department did not alert the MVA leadership about rebel Shiv Sena MLAs leaving Maharashtra for a safe haven in BJP-ruled Gujarat, NCP chief Sharad Pawar is said to have conveyed his “serious displeasure” to state Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil, who is from the NCP, and state party chief Jayant Patil.

Incidentally, one of the rebel MLAs is MoS (Home) Shambhuraj Desai.

Sources said Walse-Patil and Jayant Patil met Pawar at his residence in Mumbai Wednesday. The NCP chief, who was in Delhi, returned to Mumbai late Tuesday and was upset over the “intelligence failure” since the Home department is headed by his party leader.

The Prophet row has created unrest in the country and abroad. Violence has spread to many states of India. On the other hand, India has also come under a lot of pressure in the international arena. In this situation, the country's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval opened his mouth. He said India's image has been hurt by this comment. But he also reminded that the way misinformation about India is being circulated is far from the truth. Meanwhile, Naveen Jindal, who was expelled from the party supporting Nupur Sharma's controversial remarks, claimed that his remarks were misinterpreted. 

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday advised Shiv Sena chief and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to make rebel leader Eknath Shinde the CM in order to save the tripartite Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, reports said.

Shinde, camping in Guwahati, has claimed that he has the support of 34 MLAs of his party. Taking to Twitter, Shinde said Sena needs to walk out of "unnatural alliance" to save the party and party workers.

Meanwhile, an emotional Uddhav Thackeray today offered to quit as Chief Minister and extended an olive branch to rebel MLAs led by Eknath Shinde, saying he will be happy if a Shiv Sainik succeeds him, adding a new twist to the ongoing political crisis that threatens to bring down his coalition government of two-and-a-half years.