Devendra Fadnavis resigns as Maharashtra CM, targets Shiv Sena for 'comments' against PM Modi

Fadnavis resigned as Chief Minister of the state earlier in the day.

He met state Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari at Raj Bhavan and handed over his resignation.

Addressing a press conference later, Fadnavis said: "The governor has accepted my resignation."

"I am thankful that for the past five years I got the opportunity to serve the people of the state," he said.

Speaking on the ongoing tussle with Shiv Sena, he said: " I can understand if the Opposition criticises us. However, Shiv Sena, who is in the government, saying something about us is not acceptable."

"We are hurt by the comments made by Shiv Sena leaders against us in recent times," he said.

He said the party is hurt by the way Shiv Sena commented against PM Narendra Modi.

Fadnavis said: "The governor directed me to continue as the acting chief minister until a new government is formed or an alternative arrangement is reached." 

Following the poll results in Maharashtra, the Sena demanded not only the rotational Chief Ministership but also 50:50 power share in the government, all of which have been turned down by the BJP which has won 105 seats. The Sena won 56 seats.

The Sena's mild push to form a non-BJP government in the state was crushed on Wednesday with the refusal of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar to join the BJP's ally.

The Congress, which has 44 seats under its belt, has also distanced itself from the Sena.

The Sena was looking to cobble up the required number by adding NCP's 54 and Congress' 44.