President's rule imposed in Maharashtra; House in suspended animation

In a major development in the turmoil in Maharashtra, President Ram Nath Kovind, on Tuesday, has accepted the Maharashtra Governor's recommendation and implemented President's rule in the state. Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has confirmed that now Maharashtra assembly is under suspended animation after the President officially signed the order. If no party stakes claim within six months, fresh elections will be held in the state.

President's rule in Maharashtra

MHA on Governor's recommendation

Furthermore, MHA has stated that the governor's report submitted to the department had said that it is unlikely neither party can form a stable government in the state. The governor had also shared that he had made all attempts to form a government but its  attempts had failed, according to MHA.  Left with no alternative, MHA stated that the Governor was constrained to send his report under Article 356 of the Constitution. After the recommendation of Governor to President was placed before Union Cabinet, the Cabinet recommended President's rule and to keep the Assembly under suspended animation, stated MHA.

Read | Maha Governor issues statement; confirms recommending President's rule

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 left for Brazil after chairing the cabinet meeting.

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

Sena challenges move in SC, Sibal to represent

Meanwhile, Sena has already approached the Supreme Court challenging the same. A 26-page petition has been filed by the Shiv Sena against the Centre and has made Congress and NCP - the parties to the petition.  Shiv Sena has approached senior Congress leader and advocate Kapil Sibal to represent the party in the Supreme Court. Shiv Sena has challenged the inadequate time allotted to the party by the governor to form a government as it failed to cobble up a coalition with the NCP-Congress support.

READ | ACCESSED: Sena's SC plea against Prez rule; confirms Sibal as lawyer

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 holding a meeting with 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. BJP too is set to hold a core committee meeting to discuss further action.

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.

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.