Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday reacted to the Uttar Pradesh government's plan to recover the cost of damages to public property from protesters involved in the Sambhal violence, saying it should also release the visuals of BJP supporters who allegedly raised slogans.

Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav linked the Sambhal clashes to the BJP's alleged manipulation of EVMs. Yadav criticized the UP government's release of rioter photos. He demanded a forensic investigation of EVMs.

Eknath Shinde on Wednesday said that the Shiv Sena would support the BJP’s choice for the Chief Minister's post. However, in the same breath, he emphasized that the final decision would be made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The BJP on its own walked away with 132 seats followed by Shiv Sena with 57 and Ajit Pawar led NCP with 41 seats. Ajit Pawar already declared that his party will support Fadnavis for the top job in the state.

Maharashtra caretaker CM Eknath Shinde said that Devendra Fadnavis, Ajit Pawar and he would attend a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Thursday where a discussion would be held on the next CM.