Uddhav Thackeray congratulates CM Eknath Shinde, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis

Former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray extended his best wishes to rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde who took oath as his successor on Thursday. He also congraulated the state's former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on becoming the new Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

Thackeray tweeted that he hopes that good work is done for Maharashtra under the duo's leadership.

Shinde has called for a special session of the state assembly on July 2 and 3 with election of a Speaker being one of the things on the agenda.

Uddhav Thackeray stepped down as chief minister on Wednesday evening after he was asked to face a floor test to prove his majority following a rebellion of Shiv Sena MLAs.

The crisis in the MVA governemnt began on June 21 when Shinde walked away with a bunch of MLAs whose number later swelled to 39 and camped first at Surat and then at Guwahati.

"Shinde always took care of his supporters and party workers. For the first time, a legislator from Thane district has become the chief minister. We are delighted for this decision," said a supporter.

The Sena leader, hailing originally from a village in Satara district in western Maharashtra, is the MLA from Kopri-Pachpakhadi in Thane city.

Also watch: Maharashtra political crisis: Eknath Shinde chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis his deputy

Some Shinde supporters took out a motorbike rally in Thane and shouted slogans hailing their leader, who is known as a mass leader, often mingling with his voters and hearing their grievances besides holding regular meetings with local Sena workers and functionaries.

Taking a dig at Fadnavis, NCP president Sharad Pawar said in Pune that the BJP leader does not seem to be happy taking over as deputy CM.