Amid the growing political crisis in Maharashtra, caused by the rebellion of Shiv Sena leader and minister Eknath Shinde, the party called a meeting of its national executive on Saturday.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will take part in the meeting, to be held at 1pm, through video conferencing.
Meanwhile, NCP president Sharad Pawar, on Friday, met CM Thackeray at the latter's residence. Pawar was accompanied by state NCP president Jayant Patil and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
Sharad Pawar had made it clear that the fate of the coalition government will be decided on the floor of the Maharashtra assembly and not at a hotel in Guwahati where Shinde and his supporters are camping.
Earlier in the day, CM Thackeray expressed determination to fight the political crisis and took on Shinde, saying the rebel leader's son is a Lok Sabha MP and should his son Aaditya Thackeray not also grow politically.
Thackeray said Shinde was given the key department of urban development which is usually headed by the chief minister of the day and publicly blamed the BJP for the rebellion in the Shiv Sena which has threatened the stability of his Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition government. "The department of urban development, which is currently with Shinde, had been always with the chief minister. Your son (Shrikant Shinde) can be an MP, but should not Aaditya also grow politically," he asked.
The Shiv Sena faction led by Thackeray has sought the disqualification of 12 legislators from the Shinde camp for not attending the legislature party meeting on Wednesday.
Talk to rebels, Sena MLA to Sanjay Raut
Even as there seems to be no immediate end to the growing crisis, Sena MLA Bhaskar Jadhav urged party leader Sanjay Raut to communicate with the rebel legislators instead of "challenging" them. "Communicate with the rebels, find out if their grievances are genuine. Differences can be resolved through communication," Jadhav, MLA from Chiplun, told reporters.
Jadhav is one of the few MLAs who have not joined the rebel camp led by Shinde.
—With PTI inputs
