BJP president Amit Shah on Wednesday denied having promised rotational sharing of the Maharashtra chief minister’s post with the Shiv Sena and accused the party of making unacceptable post-poll demands even as he defended the Maharashtra governor recommendation of President’s rule.

Shah, who had maintained a baffling silence all through the Maharashtra logjam, spoke for the first time on the issue in an interview to news agency ANI.

“Before the elections, both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and I had said many times in public that Devendra Fadnavis would be the chief minister if the alliance won. Nobody objected back then. Now they have come up with new demands that are not acceptable to us,” Shah said, asked about the Sena’s demand and the collapse of the alliance.

Shah had played the lead role in Haryana by swiftly stitching a post-poll alliance with Dushyant Chautala’s new outfit JJP that had emerged as the king-maker in the hung verdict, but in the case of Maharashtra he had stayed mum and appeared to have withdrawn himself. This had baffled BJP circles.

Visibly angry, Shah warned of political consequences for the manner in which the Sena broke off and joined the Opposition ranks. “If the Sena thinks that it can revolt and get the people’s sympathy, they really don’t know the public,” he said.

Shah attacked Congress leader Kapil Sibal for accusing the governor of not giving enough time to the Sena to form the government.

“Maharashtra was given 18 days to form the government, which is unprecedented for any state. The governor invited parties only after the tenure of the Assembly ended. President’s rule was declared when no party came forward to stake claim,” Shah said, defending the governor’s recommendation of central rule.

“I can’t understand Kapil Sibal’s arguments. He is making childish arguments that enough time was not given…. Who has stopped anyone? Even now, any party can approach the governor if it has the numbers,” he added.

Sibal is the counsel for the Sena and he has moved the Supreme Court challenging the Maharashtra governor’s decision not to grant three days to submit a letter of support for government formation.

Asked if he favoured fresh polls in the state, Shah replied in the negative and added that President’s rule had been imposed for six months and parties were free to stake claim to form the government if they have the numbers.

“Those who are criticising the governor for imposing President’s rule by saying that establishing the next government is their right, I want to tell them: You have the right but you don’t have the numbers,” Shah said.