Union cabinet gives approval for President's rule in Maharashtra

Update at 2:50 PM

Sources report that the NCP had sought 2 days to stake claim to form the government in the state, from the governor. Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari had reportedly then recommended president's rule in the state after declining NCP's request.

After Maharashtra governor recommended president's rule in Maharashtra on Tuesday, 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 too had been delayed, according to sources. PM Modi was scheduled was to leave at 2.00 PM. At 2:40 PM, PM Modi has now left for Brazil after chairing the cabinet meeting

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

Guv recommends President's rule

Meanwhile, Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has 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. 

Shiv Sena to challenge prez rule

Challenging the governor's recommendation for a president's rule, Shiv Sena has approached senior Congress leader and advocate Kapil Sibal to represent the party in the Supreme Court to challenge a President's rule (if applied) in Maharashtra. Sources report that Sena Supremo Uddhav Thackeray has talked to Kapil Sibal and Ahmed Patel over the issue. Shiv Sena had failed to cobble a coalition with NCP-Congress on Monday.

READ | BIG: Maharashtra Guv sends report to MHA, recommends President's 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 | Senior Congress leaders to not meet with Pawar; NCP mulls govt forming

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.