Maharashtra was placed under President’s Rule on Tuesday after a report from Governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari to the Centre that none of the three political parties – the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) could form the government could produce enough seats required.
Earlier today, the Union cabinet recommended President’s Rule in Maharashtra. No government could be formed even after 20 days after the election results were out on October 24.
The Shiv Sena has already decided to move the Supreme Court and stated that the Governor was working “at the behest of the BJP”. They approached the apex court following reports that the Union cabinet had recommended President’s Rule in the state. The Governor had invited NCP yesterday to stake claim for the formation of the government, refusing to accept the Shiv Sena’s request for a 48-hour extension to form the government.
The Governor sent the report to the Centre after the NCP spoke to him at 11 am, and hours before the 8.30 pm deadline and asked for more time, it was reported by NDTV. It was also said in the news report that the President’s Rule was recommended in the middle of meetings between allies Congress and NCP to discuss the possibility of the supporting the Shiv Sena.
The BJP won 105 seats, the Shiv Sena won 56, and though this put them in a position of forming the government in alliance, the Sena wanted a rotational chief ministership. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) won 54 and the Congress won 44 seats.
BJP and the Shiv Sena had been invited by the Governor to show letters of support to form the government. The NCP received the Governor’s invite yesterday. In fact, the BJP had opted out of the race accusing the Shiv Sena of “betraying the people’s mandate”.
The Shiv Sena and the NCP-Congress are archrivals, and attempts by the Shiv Sena and Congress to form a government hit the wall on ideological grounds. The Congress has said that more time is required for discussion with the NCP.
The post-election political developments in Maharashtra have created a massive rift between the BJP and the Shiv Sena. The Sena has also pulled out its only minister from the Centre, indicating an exit from the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The BJP-Shiv Sena has been in a partnership for three decades.
