37 MLAs Support Shinde As Sena Leader In Signed Letter: 10 Points

Mr Shinde's explosive move comes shortly after Team Uddav Thackeray fought back, filing disqualification applications for 12 rebels with the Deputy Speaker, which may help tweak the numbers in the Assembly in case of a trust vote. Eknath Shinde has argued that the application is illegal.

"Who are you trying to scare? We know your make-up and the law too! According to the 10th Schedule to the Constitution (Schedule) the whip is for assembly work, not for meeting. There are numerous Supreme Court decisions in this regard," tweeted Eknath Shinde. The Sena had threatened MLAs who skipped a legislature party meeting called by Uddhav Thackeray On Wednesday with disqualification.

Eknath Shinde has reached the critical number of MLAs, 37, required to split the party in the assembly without falling foul of the anti-defection law. His total strength is now 42.  Two more MLAs, Dada Bhuse and Sanjay Rathore and one MLC, Ravibdra Fathak, had joined his team in Guwahati in the evening.

Earlier today, the Shiv Sena said it would consider exiting the Maharashtra alliance with Sharad Pawar's NCP and Congress but only if the rebels return "in 24 hours".

But what appeared a capitulation was accompanied by a threat. These MLAs who have left... they will find it difficult to return and move around in Maharashtra," Mr Raut had added.

The BJP has denied the accusation of engineering an "Operation Lotus" in Maharashtra. Videos from the Guwahati hotel where the rebels are staying, however, showed a BJP minister of Assam standing with the group. Before the MLAs moved in, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was also seen at the hotel.

After holding internal meetings, the Congress and Sharad Pawar's party -- alliance partners of Shiv Sena in Maharashtra – said they were with Mr Thackeray.  "We will fight together. The MVA will stay together," senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said.

Veteran politician Sharad Pawar -- who crafted the MVA alliance and whose Nationalist Congress Party is part of the government -- expressed confidence today that the government will survive. "A floor test will decide who has majority," Mr Pawar told reporters.

Eknath Shinde has demanded the Sena break its alliance with the Congress and the NCP, saying this was diluting its Hindutva ideology and that the party leaders suffered the most in the last two-and-a-half years of the coalition rule.

Uddhav Thackeray has been reduced to a minority chief in the party founded and led for decades by his father, Bal Thackeray. In an emotional message to the rebels on Wednesday, he said, "If my own people don't want me as Chief Minister, he should walk up to me and say so... I'm ready to resign... I am Balasaheb's son, I am not after a post".