Published 19:46 IST, November 10th 2019
BJP declines to form Maharashtra govt; this is what may happen next
As BJP officially declined to form the government in Maharashtra, this has thrown up many possibilities which might include a realignment of political parties.
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On Sunday, a BJP delegation comprising Caretaker Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, senior ministers such as Pankaja Munde and Sudhir Mungantiwar met the state’s Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari. It was communicated to him that BJP would not form the government in the state. This comes a day after Koshyari had asked Fadnavis to indicate his willingness for government formation. This has thrown up several scenarios, which might include a realignment of political parties in Maharashtra.
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Post-poll alliance assumes significance
While there are no specific guidelines as to whom the Governor should invite for government formation in case of a hung assembly, the Sarkaria Commission recommendations are usually relied upon. In the current situation, the pre-poll BJP-Shiv Sena (SS) alliance failed to materialise as the latter remains adamant over the CM’s post. As the single-largest party BJP too relinquished its claim to form the government, the third option in the order of preference as per the Sarkaria Commission guidelines- 'a post-poll alliance of parties' assumes significance.
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Possible scenarios
However, as there is no post-poll alliance as of now, the Governor might have to invite the second-largest party Shiv Sena, that won 56 seats in the Assembly elections.
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- To form a stable government, the SS will have to take the support of both the Nationalist Congress Party (54 seats) and the Congress (44 seats). This is because the number of Independents and MLAs of smaller parties is only 13 and 16 respectively.
- Even if SS and NCP secure the support of all non-BJP and non-Congress MLAs, they will still fall short of a majority by 5 seats if the Congress doesn't join them.
- There is also a possibility of SS and NCP coming together to form the government with the outside support of the Congress party.
- On the other hand, the other pre-poll alliance of Congress and NCP does not stand a chance unless it solicits the support of either SS or BJP.
- If none of these equations work out, President's Rule will have to be imposed in Maharashtra. This, in turn, might lead to fresh elections being declared.
19:06 IST, November 10th 2019