President's rule was imposed in Maharashtra on Tuesday evening after Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari in a report to the Centre stated that formation of a stable government was impossible in the current situation despite all his efforts, drawing flak from non-BJP parties. The development came as the political impasse lingered on for the 19th day after the assembly election results were declared, with the Congress and the NCP saying that they have not yet taken any decision on Shiv Sena's proposal of forming a government, which they received only on Monday, and will hold further discussions.
10:23 PM: President's rule in Maharashtra 'cruel joke' on democracy, malicious act: Congress
The Congress hit out at Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and the BJP-led Centre on Tuesday over the imposition of President's rule in the state, saying the action was not only a "cruel joke" on democracy but also a "malicious act" that tramples upon constitutional practices.
Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also questioned the Maharashtra governor's "arbitrary" allotment of time to the NCP, Shiv Sena and the BJP to prove support for government formation. "The imposition of President's rule in Maharashtra is not only a cruel joke on democracy, but also a malicious act that tramples upon constitutional practices," he said, adding, "The governor and the rulers in Delhi have done a grave injustice to the afflicted farmers and the common people of Maharashtra."
9:38 PM: CPI(M) terms imposition of Prez rule in Maharashtra 'abrupt'
The CPI(M) Politburo on Tuesday called the imposition of President's rule in Maharashtra "abrupt" and said the "hurried" endorsement of the governor's recommendation for it was an "assault" on the Constitution.
"The CPI(M) Politburo strongly condemns the abrupt manner in which the President's rule has been imposed in Maharashtra. The governor had given time till 8.30 pm tonight to the NCP leader, Sharad Pawar, to claim support of the majority of the elected MLAs to form the government. Even before the deadline set by him was over, he recommends the imposition of Article 356 by the President of India," the party said in a statement.
9:34 PM: Will work to form BJP govt, says Narayan Rane; mocks Shiv Sena for getting fooled by Congress
BJP leader and former Maharashtra chief minister Narayan Rane on Tuesday said he would do "whatever" to ensure his party forms a government in thestate. Rane, a Rajya Sabha MP, was a former Shiv Sena CM who then quit the saffron party to join the Congress before floating his own outfit and then joining the BJP. "I will do whatever it takes to form a new BJP government, but I will not discuss (modalities) how," he told reporters in Mumbai.
He said the Shiv Sena had been "unsuccessful" in the government formation as yet and went on to claim "I don't think the Shiv Sena will go with the Congress-NCP alliance". President's Rule was imposed in the state on Tuesday after an impasse on government formation could not be resolved.
8:27 PM: No decision on supporting Shiv Sena yet: NCP, Congress
The Congress and NCP said on Tuesday evening that they had yet not taken any decision about supporting the Shiv Sena to form government in Maharashtra but will hold further discussions. At a joint press conference with Congress leaders, NCP president Sharad Pawar said the two parties will discuss and evolve a consensus on what should be the policies and programs if the Shiv Sena was to be supported.
"We (Congress and NCP leaders) discussed the nitty-gritty of a (possible) common minimum programme to ensure the government functions smoothly," he said. Ahmed Patel said the Shiv Sena, which had contested the elections in alliance with the BJP, approached the Congress-NCP officially only on Monday, seeking support to form the next government.
7:59 PM: Uddhav Thackeray meets Sena's MLA-elects at resort amid Maha impasse
Even as the Congress-NCP were in a huddle over government formation in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday met his party legislators at a suburban resort where they are staying for the last few days.
Thackeray was accompanied by senior leaders and his sons Aaditya, the newly-elected MLA from Worli in central Mumbai, and Tejas. Jadhav said the NCP was given time till 8.30 pm on Tuesday to express its "ability and willingness" to stake claim to form government in the state, but the President's rule was imposed at 5.30 pm.
6:31 PM: No decision taken yet by SC registry on listing Shiv Sena's petition for hearing
The Supreme Court registry is yet to take a call on placing the petition filed by the Shiv Sena before Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi on their plea for according an urgent hearing on Tuesday itself.
An official source told PTI that there is some defect in the petition and the judicial branch of the apex court registry is working with the advocate-on-record who has filed the petition to cure the defect.
5: 32 PM: President's rule imposed in Maharashtra amid political impasse
President's rule was imposed in Maharashtra on Tuesday evening amid a stalemate over government formation after the assembly polls last month. The Union Cabinet had earlier in the day recommended President's rule in the state after Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari submitted a report in this regard, officials said.
President Ram Nath Kovind has signed a proclamation imposing President's rule in Maharashtra, they said adding the Assembly will remain in suspended animation. In his report, the governor said a situation has arisen that a stable government is not possible even after 15 days of election results being declared, according to officials.
5:17 PM: Shiv Sena to file second petition in SC if President's rule imposed
The Shiv Sena will file a second petition in the Supreme Court if the President's rule is imposed in Maharashtra, a party lawyer said on Tuesday. "We will file a second petition today itself if the President's rule is imposed in the state," advocate Sunil Fernandes, who filed the first petition on behalf of Shiv Sena, told PTI.
He said the party lawyers have received no response from the apex court registrar for the request of giving urgent hearing Tuesday itself on its first petition in which the party has sought quashing of the Governor's Monday decision not to give three days time to submit a letter of support for government formation in the state.
4:20 PM: Prez rule recommendation: Cong says Governor acted in a hurry
The Congress on Tuesday said Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari acted in a hurry in sending his report recommending President's rule in Maharashtrawithout exhausting all options for government formation.
The Shiv Sena, which on Monday suffered a setback in its efforts to cobble up a non-BJP government in the state, said if President's rule is imposed, it can be challenged in court.
3:16 PM: Sena moves SC against Governor's refusal for extra time to muster numbers
The Shiv Sena on Tuesday moved the Supreme Court against Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari's refusal to grant more time to the party to submit the required letters of support to form the next government on Monday night, a party leader said on Tuesday.
The Sena, which is trying to form a possible coalition government with the support of the NCP and the Congress, had failed to secure the requisite letters from both the parties.
2.14 PM : Shiv Sena may move SC if Guv impose Prez rule
The Shiv Sena likely to take legal recourse against Maharashtra Governor's recommendation for the President's Rule, reported News18. "How can the honourable governor recommend President's rule till the time given to NCP doesn’t lapse?" asked Sena spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi.
Sources told CNN-News18 that Uddhav Thackeray has spoken to Kapil Sibal and Ahmed Patel about the recent development in Maharashtra. Kapil Sibal may represent the Sena in the Supreme Court, according to the report.
1:30 PM: Guv recommends President rule in Maharashtra
Maharashtra Governor BS Koshyari has recommended the President's rule in the state of Maharashtra amid deadlock over government formation amid major political parties, reported News18.
The governor has sent a recommendation to the Centre that the President's rule is the only option as no party is in the position to form government at the moment, according to the report.
12:55 PM : Sonia Gandhi, Sharad Pawar had fresh talks; 3 Cong leaders in Mumbai to meet Pawar
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has spoken to NCP’s Sharad Pawar about Maharashtra situation, said Congress leader K C Venugopal. He further said he, Ahamed Patel and Mallikarjun Kharge will meet Pawar in Mumbai for further talks.
12:43 PM : Decision only after talks with NCP: Congress
NCP and Congress had a pre-poll alliance and the two parties will take the decision on Maharashtra government formation collectively, senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge told ANI. “Our talks with NCP are on, and we will only move forward once discussions with them are done,” he said.
12:15 PM : If 3 parties form govt, CM will be from Shiv Sena: report
NCP sources told News18 that if NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena decides to form government, the chief minister will be from the Sena. NCP doesn’t want Congress to support it from outside and all must be onboard, the report said. "We can't take the risk of 'Operation Lotus' like in Karnataka or in Goa. But no discussions have taken place on the modalities of the alliance," sources told News18.
12:01 PM : Pawar visits Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut at hospital
Sharad Pawar visited Lilawati Hospital to meet Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, who was admitted after he complained of chest pain on Monday.
11:55 AM : NCP chief Sharad Pawar keeps cards closed ahead of Guv meet
11:23 AM : Maha Congress leaders will hold talks with Sena, NCP
"The Maharashtra Congress leaders will discuss the broad contours of government formation with their NCP counterparts on Tuesday before inviting the Shiv Sena for talks.”
The Shiv Sena leaders are likely to join the discussions after the Congress and NCP come to an agreement. Sharad Pawar has informed the Congress central leadership that he would come to Delhi and finalise details with them."
11 AM : Senior Cong leaders defer Mumbai visit
Senior Congress leaders K C Venugopal and Mallikarjun Kharge, who were supposed to come to Mumbai today to discuss modalities of support to the Shiv Sena for government formation in Maharashtra, have deferred their visit, a Congress leader said.
The two leaders postponed their visit after NCP chief Sharad Pawar conveyed that state leaders of both the parties will first discuss the "terms and conditions" of government formation, former Maharashtra Congress president Manikrao Thakare told PTI.
9:44 AM : President accepts Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant's resignation as Union minister
President Ram Nath Kovind has accepted Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant’s resignation, with immediate effect. Sawant resigned on Monday as the Union minister of heavy industries and public enterprises amid a tussle with ally BJP over government formation in Maharashtra. The portfolio was given to Prakash Javdekar.
9:34 AM : Shiv Sena's Sanjay Rout: "Hum honge kamiyaab!"
9:25 AM : Congress MLAs sent back to Jaipur
After the indecisive meeting of Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi with party leaders, including those from Maharashtra, on supporting the Shiv Sena in forming the state government, the party's MLAs were sent back to Jaipur as Congress state in-charge Mallikarjun Kharge said that "there will be a meeting tomorrow".
9:15 AM: WATCH: A highlight of what happened yesterday in Maharashtra
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8:43 AM: Two Congress leaders will meet Sharad Pawar today
The Congress on Monday decided that it will send two leaders to Mumbai to talk to NCP chief Sharad Pawar. Former Maharashtra Congress President Manikrao Thakre said: "It has been decided that two leaders will be sent for discussions with Pawar saheb... state (Congress) leaders will also be there. The next step will be taken after the discussion."
8:35 AM : Political map of India
8:21 AM : Difficult to get support by given time for NCP: report
Senior NCP leaders believe it would be difficult for the party to convince the Congress leadership to support the Shiv Sena within the deadline of 8:30 PM given by the governor, reported The Indian Express, citing sources. Sonia Gandhi was indecisive till Monday evening over extending Congress’ support to ideological rival Sena.
* NCP national spokesperson Nawab Malik said, "Our delegation has been invited by the Governor and the indication is that a letter of invitation will be given to us. Tomorrow we shall discuss with the Congress on the ways and means to form the next government.”
"The Governor requires letters with signatures, names, constituency names and the number of all the supporting legislators which was difficult to organise at such a short notice. The Sena sought additional time, but the Governor expressed his inability to grant the extension," Malik said.
* Earlier, senior NCP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar informed the media that he was called by the Governor at 8.30 p.m. and he was proceeding to the Raj Bhavan for a meeting along with half-a-dozen other leaders, but claimed that he had no knowledge as to why he was called.
Also read: What the Maharashtra riddle means for the state, national politics and stakeholders
* The Congress on Monday did not commit support to a government headed by Uddhav Thackeray's party in Maharashtra as some senior leaders expressed opposition to such a move, reported IANS. Three senior leaders -- A.K. Antony, Mallikarjun Kharge and K.C. Venugopal - particularly were opposed to extension of support to a Shiv Sena government as they feared backlash for the Congress in other states, sources told IANS. Even Maharashtra leader Manik Rao Thackeray had reservations as he said that "there is an issue of ideological differences with Shiv Sena".
Highlights: Shiv Sena gets 'in-principle' backing from NCP,Congress but fails to get letters of support
* The Shiv Sena on Monday claimed that the NCP and Congress have agreed "in-principle" to back its government without the BJP in Maharashtra but failed to get letters of support from the political rivals before the deadline set by the Governor who rejected its plea for three more days to do so.
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