Maharashtra LIVE: Sena-NCP-Cong combine parade 162 MLAs in Mumbai hotel

The Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party, and the Congress--the combine that had expected to govern Maharashtra--are expected to challenge the BJP in Parliament which resumes after the weekend.

10:50 AM

Tushar Mehta submits NCP lawmakers' letter of support

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submits before Supreme Court letter with signatures of 54 NCP MLAs pledging support to BJP, report TV news channels.

10:47 AM

Solicitor General seeks time

Shiv Sena has 56 MLAs, NCP 54, and Congress 44 seats, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta tells Supreme Court. “There was talk about horse trading but governor possibly felt that entire stable is stolen. I'm seeking time to file reply as there are questions which need to be discussed,” says Mehta, according to news agency ANI.

10:41 AM

SC hearing resumes

Three-judge Supreme Court bench assembles to hear Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress combine’s petition against Maharasthra governor’s decision.

10:39 AM

Top lawyers argue Maharashtra case before SC

Congress leader and senior lawyer Kapil Sibal will represent the Shiv Sena, and Abhishek Manu Singhvi will argue for Congress-NCP before the Supreme Court, reports ANI. Senior lawyer Mukul Rohatgi will represent Maharashtra BJP and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta the central government.

10:35 AM

Will stall Parliament: Congress

News agency ANI says Congress parliamentary strategy group has decided to raise Maharashtra controversy in both Houses. “We'll stall proceedings in both Houses. The government is killing democracy from Arunachal to Goa,” Congress leader K Suresh told ANI.

10:26 AM

Supreme Court hearing coming up

Supreme Court to shortly resume hearing petitions challenging the governor inviting BJP to form government in Maharashtra. The court on Sunday had asked to give it two letters: one by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari inviting Devendra Fadnavis to form the government, and another by the chief minister claiming the support of enough MLAs for a majority.

10:09 AM

BJP will betray Ajit Pawar: Shiv Sena

Shiv Sena, in an editorial in party newspaper Saamana, warns Ajit Pawar the BJP will betray him. The editorial accuses Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari of "cheating" and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of "blackening the tradition of Maharashtra politics".

10:00 AM

Congress strategists meet Sonia Gandhi

The Congress party's parliamentary strategy group, comprising senior leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, and K C Venugopal, meets at party chief Sonia Gandhi at her residence in Delhi. The Congress is likely to raise Maharashtra’s politics in Parliament, reports news agency PTI.

9:14 AM

Ajit Pawar, the fox in the henhouse

Ajit Pawar, who upturned Maharashtra politics by joining hands with the BJP to form the state’s new government, is known for his brusqueness and hold over cooperatives. Read Business Standard’s profile of the man.

 

9:09 AM

NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal meets Ajit Pawar

NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal arrives at Ajit Pawar’s residence in Mumbai’s Churchgate and will try and convince him to resign, reports India Today TV channel.

8:58 AM

NCP MLA returns to Sharad Pawar camp: Report

News channel NDTV reports an NCP legislator is returning to the party after moving to the Ajit Pawar camp. As many as 53 NCP MLAs now support Sharad Pawar, the party president, reports said. The NCP won 54 seats in Maharashtra assembly elections. The BJP won 105 seats, Shiv Sena 56, and the Congress 44.

8:21 AM

Analysis: why the NCP needs to reinvent itself

What's th NCP? The party's founding principle was opposition to the ‘foreign origins’ of Congress President Sonia Gandhi. In all other ideological respects, it is hard to tell them apart from the Congress. Read our analyis on the regional powerhouse.

8:05 AM

Ajit Pawar, Fadnavis meeting

NCP leader Ajit Pawar, who surprisingly sided with the BJP to become Maharashtra’s new deputy chief minister on Saturday, met Devendra Fadnavis late Sunday night for a closed-door meeting with the Chief Minister. The NCP has removed Ajit as its legislature party leader, but he says his party is in alliance with the BJP. Ajit’s uncle and NCP chief, Sharad Pawar, has denied this.