The BJP made "aghori" (barbaric) attempts to retain power in Maharashtra but the state''s people foiled it, marking the beginning of a change in the country's politics, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said. Addressing reporters, Mr Raut said it will not be surprising if the Shiv Sena forms government at the Centre after having installed its chief minister (Uddhav Thackeray) in Maharashtra.

Taken completely by surprise and left clueless with the fast-paced political developments in Maharashtra which saw NCP leader Ajit Pawar extending support to the BJP Saturday morning, senior Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut has said Ajit Pawar supported BJP as he feared going to jail. "Ajit Pawar joined hands with the BJP because he wanted to escape going to jail," Sanjay Raut said.

Cracks of dawn have started to appear over the political horizon of Maharashtra as the state stuck in a stalemate for past 27 days may finally see the formation of a government within a week. Sources in the Nationalist Congress Party have told India Today TV that interim Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has given green signal to an alliance with Shiv Sena in Maharashtra.