Surgical strike on Maharashtra: Uddhav Thackeray tears into BJP after morning coup

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.

He also dared the BJP to try and break his party.

Uddhav 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 government.

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 under way at the time.

Sharad Pawar has said his nephew Ajit Pawar's extraordinary decision to defect to a coalition led by the BJP didn't have the NCP's support.

Pawar senior also warned his MLAs against breaking ranks, pointing out that an anti-defection law was in place.