Maha Governor issues statement; confirms recommending President's rule

Issuing a press statement confirming the recommendation of a president's rule in Maharashtra, the Governor of Maharashtra on Tuesday, set the record straight as NCP denied any such recommendation. In the statement, Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has said that he was satisfied that the govt of the State of  Maharashtra cannot be carried on in accordance with the Constitution. Hence, the governor had submitted a report as contemplated by the provisions of Art. 356 of the Constitution.

Guv releases statement

Union Cabinet approves

Meanwhile,  Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led cabinet meeting has approved a president's rule in the state, according to sources. Prime Minister Modi's departure to Brazil to attend the 11th BRICS summit on November 13 and 14 had been postponed to accommodate the meeting. At 2:40 PM, PM Modi has left for Brazil after chairing the cabinet meeting.

READ |Union cabinet gives approval for President's rule in Maharashtra

Guv recommends President's rule, Sena challenges

Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari had sent a report to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) recommending President Rule in the state, said sources. As per sources, the governor is of opinion that no party - be it BJP, Shiv Sena, Congress or NCP can give a stable government in the state. Using his prerogative, the governor has sent the report to the President, via MHA, after declining NCP's request for 2 days to stake claim. Sena has already approached the Supreme Court challenging the same. Shiv Sena has approached senior Congress leader and advocate Kapil Sibal to represent the party in the Supreme Court, as per sources. Shiv Sena had failed to cobble a coalition with NCP-Congress on Monday.

READ | Sena asks Cong's Sibal to represent in SC as Guv recommends Prez rule

NCP awaits Congress decision

While NCP and Shiv Sena have held a meeting with all their MLAs separately, Ajit Pawar has blamed Congress from Monday's delay in support to Sena. NCP is currently awaiting the arrival of senior Congress leaders in Mumbai to discuss further action. This development comes after the governor on Monday, invited NCP to show a willingness to form the government by 8:30 PM on Tuesday. Shiv Sena had failed to cobble up a coalition with the NCP-Congress' support and was denied an extension from the Governor.

READ | NCP blames Congress for delay; says no NCP-Sena govt sans Cong support

Recent political shifts

As Maharashtra entered its 18th day of having no government on Monday, hectic parleys were held between Congress interim-chief Sonia Gandhi, NCP Supremo Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena Supremo Uddhav Thackeray. Senior Congress leaders were flown from Jaipur to Delhi to take a final call on Congress-NCP extending support to Shiv Sena. While Uddhav Thackeray met Pawar and called up Sonia Gandhi multiple times, Congress did not reach a decision by 7:30 PM which was the deadline for Shiv Sena to stake claim. Meanwhile, BJP held a core committee meeting at Fadnavis' residence to prevent defections and to decide the future course. Sena's sole Union Minister Arvind Sawant too resigned from the Modi cabinet in protest. Blaming the Sena for fracturing the Mahayuti alliance, BJP announced that it would not form the next government in the state on Sunday, after meeting the governor.

READ: HD Deve Gowda asks Congress to 'not disturb' govt if allied with Sena

Current Maha Assembly numbers

The saffron alliance swept Maharashtra on October 24, winning a combined tally of 161 (BJP- 105, Sena -56), but is yet to put its majority to use. Meanwhile, the 'Maha- Agadhi' alliance (NCP-54, Congress-44) bagged 98 seats in total. The halfway mark is 145.