Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant announces resignation from BJP government

Union Minister and Shiv Sena leader Arvind Sawant has announced on Monday that he is resigning from the Union Government and will hold a press conference at 11 AM. His resignation comes after BJP on Sunday announced that it will not form the government in Maharashtra. Both the Mahayuti alliance partners are at loggerheads over the Chief Minister's post in the state. Amid uncertainty over government formation in Maharashtra, Sawant's resignation from PM Modi's cabinet comes as a major development in the ongoing Maharashtra political crisis.

READ: BJP Tells Maha Guv It Won't Form Govt, Dares Sena To Go With Cong-NCP

Union Minister resigns

In an early-morning announcement on Twitter, Sawant mentioned how the agreed seat-sharing formula was not followed and that the BJP has been taking multiple false steps in the state. He said, "Prior to the Lok Sabha elections, the allocation of space and power allocation had become a formula. Both of them were convinced. Now, denying this formula is a formidable threat to the Shiv Sena. BJP has taken a lot of strides in Maharashtra in the pursuit of falsehood. Shiv Sena's side is the truth. Why stay in Delhi government in such a false environment? And that is why I am resigning as the Union Minister. In this regard, this morning, it was 5.30. I will be holding a press conference in Delhi." 

Sawant holds the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises portfolio in the Narendra Modi led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena's leaders will be going to the Rajbhavan at 2 pm to meet the Governor. 

READ: '2 Different Things...', Says BJP On 'Sena Breakup Official?' Question

BJP says 'will not form govt'

The development comes after the BJP State President Chandrakant Patil, on Sunday evening, announced that BJP will not be forming the government in the State and that Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena can stake claim to form the government. Addressing the media, he said, "In the elections, BJP, RPI, Sena and other parties were given mandate. Yesterday, the governor invited the BJP to form the government. We fought for the alliance, got votes for the alliance. Sena does not want to be part of the alliance. Sena chose to insult the mandate. We won't form the government. We informed the governor. If Sena has to go with NCP, Congress, we wish them good luck."

Maharashtra election result

In the recently concluded elections, the BJP won 105 seats, Sena 56 seats, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) 44 seats and the Indian National Congress (INC) 44 seats. The Sena and BJP had entered into a pre-poll alliance and had together won a majority. However, the two parties have not been able to form the government after deferring over various issues, with the post of the Chief Minister being the main one.

READ | BJP netas to meet Maharashtra Guv to convey decision on govt formation

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