If Devendra Fadnavis was ready to become the deputy CM then what stopped the BJP from agreeing to share the top post with Uddhav Thackeray, asked Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana on Friday, even as it called Shinde’s elevation a masterstroke by BJP high command. From likening Thackeray to Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who chose ethics over power, to slamming the Supreme Court, the newspaper went all guns blazing backing Thackeray’s political battle with the Shinde camp.

The 34-year-old newspaper, founded by Bal Thackeray, said in an editorial on Friday, “It [sharing the CM’s post] was the BJP’s commitment to Shiv Sena and there was no question of going back on it like this. You have won power but now what next? Citizens will always pay back for this kind of immorality.”