Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray tore into the BJP on Saturday for joining hands with a rebel NCP leader to form a government, describing the stunning development as a "surgical strike" on Maharashtra -- one, he said, that the people would avenge.
Thackeray's comments came at a joint press conference with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), part of the three-party opposition alliance that's been working to form a governing coalition.
The other party in the rival grouping, the Congress, did not send representatives to the press meet. NCP chief Sharad Pawar, who spoke before Uddhav at the press meet, said a legislature party meeting of the Congress was underway at the time.
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Sharad Pawar has said his nephew Ajit Pawar's extraordinary decision to defect to a governing coalition led by the BJP didn't have the NCP's support. Pawar senior warned his MLAs against breaking ranks, pointing out that the anti-defection law was in place.