Maharashtra govt formation highlights: Prez rule imposed; negotiations on

Maharashtra govt formation: With no consensus achieved between Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, President's rule has been imposed

10:46 PM

CPI-M terms Prez's Rule as 'another assault on Constitution'

The CPI-M on Tuesday strongly condemned "the abrupt manner" in which President's Rule was imposed in Maharashtra and accused the BJP-led government of "another assault on the Constitution."

 

In a statement, CPI-M politburo said that Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari 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. A hurriedly called Union Cabinet meeting, just before the PM's departure abroad, endorses the Governor's recommendation and forwards it to the President for the imposition of the Central rule," said the statement.

10:45 PM

BJP may resort to horse-trading after imposing Prez Rule in Maha: Digvijay Singh

Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh on Tuesday expressed apprehension that the BJP may indulge in horse-trading to form government in Maharshtra after imposing the President Rule there.

 

He expressed the apprehension, alleging that the decision to impose the President Rule in the state has been taken under duress from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

 

"Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari had invited the third largest party, the National Congress Party, for the government formation in the state. The time limit for it was to end at 8.30 pm on Tuesday, but the governor made a recommendation for imposing the President Rule even before the expiry of that time limit," Singh told reporters here.

 

This cannot be termed as right in democracy, he said.

10:37 PM

President's rule unfortunate, hope to see stable govt soon: Fadnavis

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said that the imposition of President's Rule in the state was unfortunate but expressed hope that a stable government would soon be formed.

 

"People had given a very clear mandate. Even then a government could not be formed. It is very unfortunate that the state was forced to have the President's Rule. Still, I expect that a stable government will soon be formed in the state," read Fadnavis' press note on Tuesday.

 

Earlier today, BJP MP and former Chief Minister Narayan Rane too had said that Fadnavis was making efforts to form a BJP led coalition government in the state.

 

"BJP will try to form the government. Devendra Fadnavis is putting in all efforts in this regard. I am now with the BJP. I will do everything I can to ensure the BJP comes to power again," said Rane.

 

Rane was speaking to reporters after the BJP's Core Committee meeting held at Varsha Bungalow, the official residence of the Chief Minister of the state.

9:00 PM

Experts divided on governor's discretion in inviting parties

Legal experts appear to be divided on the issue of constitutional propriety of Maharashtra Governor B K Koshyari's decision to recommend President's rule in the state.

 

Following Koshyari's report to the Centre and the Union cabinet's recommendation, President's rule was imposed in the state on Tuesday amid the impasse over government formation since the last month's elections.

 

Constitutional expert Ulhas Bapat termed the decision as potentially unconstitutional.

 

"This President's rule can be interpreted as unconstitutional because Maharashtra governor has given the BJP two days (to indicate willingness to form government), but he gave only 24 hours to the other two parties. It looks like a biased approach," he said.

 

Senior lawyer Shrihari Aney, former advocate general of Maharashtra, however, said the Governor must have recommended President's rule after being "reasonably satisfied" that none of the parties could form a stable government.

 

Aney pointed out that all the political parties had the time to cobble together the numbers to prove majority and stake claim to form government since October 24, when the election results were announced.

 

"It would be ridiculous to say that the parties were not serious about forming the government till the governor called upon them to do so," Aney told PTI.

8:59 PM

8:47 PM

Parties can still stake claim: Experts on President rule in Maharashtra

Political parties in Maharashtra can still stake their claim to form government after the imposition of President's rule, say Constitution experts.

 

The decision to impose the President's rule came hours after state Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari informed President Ram Nath Kovind that he was "satisfied that Maharashtra government cannot be carried on in accordance with the Constitution".

 

"The President has not dissolved the Assembly yet. So, political parties in the fray can approach the Governor staking their claim on government formation", said P D T Achary, former Secretary General, Lok Sabha.

 

The Supreme Court in the S R Bommai judgement in 1994 listed the situations where the President's rule can be imposed under Article 356.

8:46 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 for the "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 rulers in Delhi have done a grave injustice to the afflicted farmers and the common people of Maharashtra."

8:05 PM

BJP has no moral ground to question us on Ideological differences. BJP came together with Mufti, Nitish and others: Uddhav

8:04 PM

BJP had promised us the CM post for 2.5 years: Uddhav

8:04 PM

Just like we worked it out with BJP we will work it out with INC and NCP: Uddhav

8:03 PM

We can work out the ideological differences and form a govt with NCP and INC: Uddhav

8:03 PM

Now that President's rule has been imposed, we have six month's time to sit with NCP and INC and find a way: Uddhav Thackeray

7:50 PM

There are several issues that need to be sorted before INC and NCP can go and talk to Shiv Sena: Sharad Pawar

7:47 PM

MLAs have returned from Jaipur: Ahmed Patel

7:45 PM

Since we (NCP-INC) has common manifesto for the elections, it is necessary that we reach common ground on that before deciding on supporting Shiv Sena: Sharad pawar