The Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant on Monday announced that he was resigning as a minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, in what is seen as a precursor to the party's severing of ties with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) after a feud over the formation of government in Maharashtra.

Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Sunday invited Shiv Sena to indicate a willingness and ability to form government in the state after the BJP said it would not stake claim to power.

The BJP, however, said that if the Sena wants to insult the mandate of the people and form a government with the support of the NCP and Congress, they have our best wishes.

TheSena called a late-night meeting of the top leaders to discuss the offer.

Minuteslater, Sena's Sanjay Raut said the state will have a Sena Chief Minister"at any cost". Without spelling anything out, Sharad Pawar'sNationalist Congress Party said it would "support a stable government".