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The Supreme Court on Friday declined a plea by the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction for an urgent hearing to restrain rebel party leader Eknath Shinde from functioning as the Maharashtra chief minister.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal mentioned Thackeray loyalist Sunil Prabhu’s application before a vacation bench of justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala. He pointed out that there would be a lot of confusion regarding the issuance of a whip since both sides may claim to be Shiv Sena and issue their own to the respective factions.

“There is no merger. The moment he [Shinde] was sworn in, he violated the Tenth Schedule [anti-defection law]. So, he is not the party. It is ex facie not a dance of democracy,” said Sibal.

After the Supreme Court on Friday tore into suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma for her remarks on Prophet Muhammad, top Opposition leaders launched a fusillade of attacks at the Modi government. The Congress led the charge, saying "the party in power should hang its head in shame".

Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi, while replying to a question in his Lok Sabha constituency Wayanad, said, "The atmosphere in the country has been created by the ruling dispensation. It is not the person [Nupur Sharma] who has made the comment, it is the Prime Minister, Home Minister, BJP and RSS that have created this environmentof anger, hatred. Frankly this environment in the country is an anti-national act. This is against the interest of India, it is against the interest of people, and it is going to lead to tragedy."

Yashwant Sinha, the Opposition's candidate for Presidential polls, on Friday said the country does not need a "silent" President at a time when an attempt is being made to keep society divided on communal lines. Speaking at a press conference here, the former Union minister also referred to the political upheaval in Maharashtra, saying "hunger for power" was dangerous. The presidential election was a fight against an ideology "that has been taking the country downwards," he said.

14 people have died while many are still feared trapped inside the debris in Manipur where a massive landslide has caused havoc. According to DGP P Doungel, 23 people were brought out of the debris out of which 14 were found dead, ANI reported. Not confirmed how many are buried but as of now 60 people including villagers, army and railway personnel, and labourers are believed to be buried, DGP Doungel added. Troops of Indian Army Assam Rifles and Territorial Army continued the rescue operations to save the landslide-hit Noney throughout the day. The incident occurred in the general area of Tupul railway station of Noney district, Manipur in spite of inclement weather.

Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday became a fourth Maharashtra politician who accepted a junior position in a government after having served as chief minister.

Fadnavis, earlier in the day, made a stunning announcement that rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde would be sworn in as the new chief minister following the collapse of the Uddhav Thackery government, and he himself would not be part of the ministry.