President’s Rule twist to Maha post-poll potboiler
Sena, NCP, Cong accuse governor of acting at behest of BJP
MUMBAI: President’s Rule was clamped in Maharashtra on Tuesday after governor BS Koshyari told the Centre that no party was in a position to form the government, capping nearly three weeks of political instability in the state and triggering criticism from the Opposition.
The Union home ministry said the customary six-month-long central rule could be revoked earlier if any party came forward to prove a majority in the state assembly.
The Shiv Sena, which has fallen out with pre-poll ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the chief minister’s position, approached the Supreme Court against Koshyari, saying the governor acted at the behest of the BJP.
A senior party leader said on condition of anonymity that a second petition would be filed early on Wednesday challenging the President’s Rule.
Koshyari sent his report to the Union home ministry after the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which was invited to form the government on Monday night, asked for more time. The report was received around noon, and the governor’s recommendation was endorsed in a Cabinet meeting at 1.30pm. The BJP and the Sena had, previously, failed to come up with the
KC Venugopal says in the morning that Congress chief Sonia Gandhi spoke to NCP president Sharad Pawar and deputed Venugopal, Ahmed Patel and Mallikarjun Kharge to hold talks in Mumbai
Koshyari recommends President’s Rule, saying that the “government can’t be carried on in accordance with the Constitution”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi convenes a cabinet meeting before leaving for Brazil. People aware of the developments say President’s Rule in Maharashtra is discussed
Congress and NCP say no decision yet on backing
Shiv Sena, and policies must be decided first
BJP blames Shiv Sena’s “stubbornness” for imposition of President’s Rule
NCP seeks 48 more hours from governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to stake claim to form the government