Maharashtra under President’s rule

Tribune News Service

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New Delhi/Mumbai, November 12

The Centre today imposed President’s rule in Maharashtra after receiving a report from Governor BS Koshyari that no political party had the numbers to form government in the state following the Assembly elections held last month.

Before leaving for Brazil to attend the BRICS summit this afternoon, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of the Union Cabinet, which approved a proposal to recommend President’s rule in the state, officials in the Ministry of Home Affairs said.

President Ram Nath Kovind signed a proclamation imposing President’s rule under Article 356(1). After the BJP declined to form the government and the Shiv Sena failed to get letters of support from the NCP and Congress, Koshyari had on Monday night asked the Sharad Pawar-led NCP to express its “ability and willingness” to stake claim to form government by 8.30 pm on Tuesday.

However, the Governor, in his report submitted at noon, noted that the NCP on Tuesday morning conveyed to him that the party needed three more days to gather requisite support. 

The Governor felt that as already 15 days had passed, he was not in a position to give more time, the officials noted.

As the Congress-NCP combine dilly-dallied about backing a government led by the Shiv Sena, the Sena hinted that it had not entirely closed its doors to the BJP.

Addressing the party’s MLAs at a resort in Mumbai’s Madh island, Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray said his party had been approached by the BJP to restart talks. Thackeray, however, refused to compromise on his demand for the CM’s post. “If we get what has been promised to us, we have no problems forming the government with the BJP,” a Shiv Sena source quoted Thackeray as telling the party’s MLAs.

Sources said some Sena MLAs had questioned Thackeray on holding talks with the Congress and the NCP since the former was in two minds about backing the regional outfit. Thackeray, however, said the Sena was still holding talks with the Congress and the NCP to work out a common minimum programme.

Cong cites 4 ‘violations’

1 Governor BS Koshyari should have first called single largest pre-poll alliance — BJP-Sena together

2 Then the largest post-poll alliance, which is Congress-NCP, should have been invited 

3 When Governor called individual parties, why did he not call the Congress? 

4 Arbitrary allotment of time—48 hours to BJP, 24 hours to Sena and not even 24 hours to NCP

Prez rule post 2014 

• Maharashtra, J&K, Arunachal Pradesh and U’khand have seen President’s rule after BJP assumed power at the Centre
• 132 times Art 356(1) imposing Prez rule invoked in the country
• 93 instances happened when Cong govt was at the Centre

The way ahead

President’s rule can be revoked before six-month period if a situation emerges for formation of a stable government. Fresh Assembly elections will otherwise have to be conducted