NEW DELHI : In the wake of NCP, after Shiv Sena, failing to prove majority before Tuesday deadline, Maharashtra was placed under Central rule on Tuesday.
The move came on the back of governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari’s recommendation, citing inability of political parties to form a govt.
NCP , similar to Shiv Sena request earlier, had sought 48 hours extension to the Tuesday timeline, but was declined.
Congress refusal to open the cards put both Shiv Sena and NCP in the dock. The High Command Sonia Gandhi was against the prospective pact with Sena as some AICC leaders, including AK Antony, Mukul Wasnik and Shivraj Patil spoke against allying with Thackeray outfit on ideological grounds – Sena’s hard Hindutva background.
Maharashtra is imposed with President’s rule for the third time, however this is the first time owing to political parties being unable to form a govt.
BJP won 105 seats in 21 October polls, while its ally Shiv Sena bagged 56 seats. The majority mark in the 288-member Assembly is 145. Post election results on 24 Oct, both parties were at loggerheads over the chief minister’s post. After 2 weeks of deadlock, BJP withdrew. The Governor then invited Shiv Sena to prove majority and form the govt failing which, NCP was invited.
