Mumbai: In a massive turn of events, BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis has been sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra and NCP’s Ajit Pawar as Deputy CM, after a month-long drama in Maharashtra politics. The development came after all the parties in the state–BJP, Congress, NCP, and Shiv Sena, were given a chance by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to form the government, failing which President Rule was imposed. on Saturday morning
The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday will hear a petition against Maharashtra Governor’s decision to revoke President’s rule in the state and anoint Fadnavis as CM and Pawar his deputy respectively. The court on Sunday issued notices to the Centre, Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar on petitions filed by Shiv Sena-Congress-NCP combine.
After oath-taking, Ajit Pawar claimed that he has the support of a few other NCP MLAs, all of them believed to be with him was present at the party meet with Sharad Pawar on Sunday evening. The BJP won 105 seats in the 288-member assembly followed by Shiv Sena 56, NCP 54 and Congress 44.
Leaders of Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena arrived at the Raj Bhavan and the leaders of the three parties submitted to the officials letter of MLAs supporting their alliance. Following this, state Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant tweeted, “The @INCMaharashtra, @ShivSena and @NCPspeaks delegation with their respective leaders have called on Governor at Rajbhavan to register its claim to form the govt in future as the incumbent govt is definitely going to fall. State must not get President`s Rule again.”
Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for NCP said, “Today there is a peculiar case before your lordships that both sides agree that there should be a floor test. The question is a narrow one – As to when the floor test should be held? There was a list of signatures (of 54 NCP MLAs), but did it say that the MLAs were agreeing to support the BJP. There can be signatures without a covering letter. This is a murder of democracy!”
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, for Maharashtra Governor, said, “Grant us 2-3 days’ time and let us file a reply. The Governor has in absolute discretion invited the largest party on November 23.”
Justice Sanjiv Khanna says, while citing the past judgement of the court in similar cases, floor test was done in 24 hours in most of the cases, in some – 48 hours.
Kapil Sibal recounts the events that transpired on Friday and Saturday as regards announcement of the common minimum programme and swearing in. “When the Governor waited for so many days, what was the emergency that required revocation of President’s Rule at 5.47 in the morning and installing a Govt at 8 am. Everything happened between 7 PM on Friday and 5AM on Saturday morning. This was done to preempt forming of the Govt of the three party alliance Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress,” said Sibal.
Letter by Congress-NCP -Shiv Sena given at Raj Bhawan staking claim to form government, saying that the present govt doesn’t have the numbers.
Ajit Pawar acted as the Leader of the NCP and there is nothing to the contrary to show that I was not the NCP leader on November 22: Maninder Singh.
Senior Counsel Maninder Singh makes submissions on behalf of Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar.
BJP has support of 54 NCP MLAs: SG Mehta tells SC.
Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi leads party’s protest in Parliament premises over Maharashtra government formation issue.
Can one party say that we have somehow managed the flock together and if the floor test doesn’t take place in 24 hours, they’ll go away?, says SG Tushar Mehta.
The procedure of the Assembly is Protem Speaker will be appointed, he will administer oath to the MLAs, they will then elect a speaker and then the floor test will be conducted: Rohatgi tells SC.
Maharashtra Governor acted reasonably because he acted on the material placed before him: Rohatgi tells SC.
Through the weekend some NCP MLAs went with Ajit Pawar and Fadnavis and now these MLAs are supporting NCP chief Sharad Pawar: Rohatgi tells SC.
Senior Counsel Mukul Rohatgi, who is appearing for Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, begins to make his submissions.
Governor invited BJP to form Govt and has given them time till Nov 30 to prove majority. But now such time has come that the post poll alliance is seeking floor test immediately in 24 hours: SG Mehta tells Supreme Court.
SG Tushar Mehta reads out the letter that Devendra Fadnavis had placed before the Governor. This letter also mentions the letter written by Ajit Pawar extending support of 54 NCP MLAs. Based on this material, Fadnavis staked claim to form government in Maharashtra.
Letter was given by Ajit Pawar on November 22. The letter says that all the elected MLAs had elected me as the head of the NCP. The list of 54 elected NCP MLAs was attached to the letter and NCP extended its support to the BJP: Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta begins to make his submissions, apprises the Court of the series of events that took place as regards invitation to form government. He said he’s arguing for the Secretary to the Governor.
“Shiv Sena has 56, NCP 54, INC 44 seats. There was talk about horse trading but Guv possibly felt that entire stability is stolen. I’m seeking time to file reply as there are questions which need to be discussed. I have the original documents with me,” said Solicitor General Mehta.
Bench headed by Justice NV Ramana and comprising of Ashok Bhushan and Sanjiv Khanna assembles.
Senior Counsel Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi, SG Tushar Mehta and Mukul Rohatgi in the Courtroom.
The Supreme Court hearing on Maharashtra floor test decision begins.
Hearing in Supreme Court, on petition jointly filed by the NCP-Congress and Shiv Sena against the formation of BJP-led government in Maharashtra, to begin shortly.
Attacking the BJP over not giving importance to the farmers in Maharashtra, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi said the BJP is defying the institutions and constitution in the state, and questioned if the party is “abducting” the public mandate. In a tweet in Hindi, she also said that 12,000 farmers committed suicide in Maharashtra and “for them, no help came from the BJP government”. “TV is showing that the BJP is trying to repeat the game of Karnataka, while defying the institutions and constitution in Maharashtra. Have we reached the stage of open abduction of the public mandate?” she said.
“BJP doesn’t have majority, a Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress govt will be formed in Maharashtra,” said Sharad Pawar.
On question of sacking Ajit Pawar, senior Pawar said, “It will be decided by party after meeting and can’t be single person’s decision. It has to be party decdion. Party will do a meeting and decide about it.”
What Ajit Pawar did was not NCP’s decision, it was his personal decision. One person can’t take decision: Sharad Pawar.
NCP and Shiv Sena leaders reach Raj Bhawan to submit letters.
On asking about the delay in govt formation, Pawar said, “Congress-NCP and Shiv Sena have different ideologies and Shiv Sena a separate one. In such a situation there was a need to sit and talk about it and a programme was being prepared.”
I’m not aware of the reports that Ajit Pawar will be made the Maharashtra Chief Minister for 2.5 years, said Sanjay Raut.
Devendra Fadanvis and Ajit Pawar to take charge of office as Maharashtra chief minister and deputy chief minister at 10 am. They took oath on Saturday and Monday is the first working day and so they will visit their respective offices.
We have support of 165 MLAs. 53 NCP MLAs are with us. Ajit Pawar has done a mistake, he should resign. Devendra Fadnavis must realise that he does not have a majority. He should realise that he has made a mistake. If he doesn’t resign, we will certainly defeat the government on the floor of the House: NCP leader Nawab Malik.
Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to reach Rajbhawan at 12 noon on Monday (November 25). He is currently in Delhi.
Senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal reaches Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s residence to talk to him.
Binoy Viswam Rajya Sabha MP from CPI has given notice of suspension of Business under rule 267 in Rajyasabha over Maharashtra government formation.
After SC hearing, NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena leaders will meet Maharashtra governor. After meeting, they will submit a letter, showing the support of 160 MLAs, to the Governor.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Nawab Malik said, “52 MLAs of the party have come back to us, one more is in touch with us.”
Out of the 4 MLAs of NCP, who were reportedly missing, Nitin Pawar reached Mumbai on Sunday and another MLA Narhari Zirwal is currently at a safe location in Delhi. Two other MLAs Anil Patil and Daulat Daroda were brought to Mumbai, by a flight on Sunday night, by NCP leaders President of NCP’s Nationalist Student Congress Sonia Doohan and President of NCP’s Nationalist Youth Congress Dheeraj Sharma. The two MLAs were staying in a hotel in Haryana’s Gurugram.
“We are here (Hyatt Hotel) to meet our party MLAs. Only one or two of our party MLAs are not here,” said NCP’s Chhagan Bhujbal.
“Two parties have been formed. Pawar Sahab is also keeping forward his views like him (Ajit Pawar). People will understand what is right and wrong,” he added when asked,”what is your view on the Twitter war between Sharad Pawar & Ajit Pawar”.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Chief Sharad Pawar leaves for Karad to attend an event on the death anniversary of former Maharashtra chief minister Yashwantrao Chavan.
NCP’s Jayant Patil on Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar’s meeting, “A govt that was formed at night,will cease to be at night. Only Chief Minister & Deputy Chief Minister are there so they are meeting each other. They both will divide all the portfolios among themselves.”
The Supreme Court will hear a petition against Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari’s decision to revoke President’s rule in the state and anoint Devendra Fadnavis as Chief Minister and Ajit Pawar as his deputy respectively. The court on Sunday issued notices to the Centre, Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar on petitions filed by Shiv Sena-Congress-NCP combine. A three-judge bench headed by Justice NV Ramana will commence hearing on the matter at 10.30 am and is expected to pass its verdict before 12 noon. The apex court on Sunday had asked the Solicitor General, Tushar Mehta, to produce before it on Monday morning two letters–showing proof of the Governor of Maharashtra inviting BJP to form the government and the letter of support, used by Fadnavis for staking claim to form the government in the state.
Bureau Report
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