Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday tendered his resignation to Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari as the BJP and Shiv Sena have failed to reach a deal on government formation.
The term of existing Maharashtra Assembly ends on November 9 and no political party has come forward to form a government in the State even though the results were declared on October 24.
While the BJP emerged as the single largest party in the 288-member Assembly with 105 seats, its ally Shiv Sena bagged 56 seats. The Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party and Congress won 54 and 44 seats respectively.
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While the Shiv Sena has been firm on a 50:50 formula for government formation, the BJP has been equally firm in not giving up the chief minister post. The NCP and the Congress have also made it clear that they would sit in Opposition. With the possibility of post-poll alliance bleak, Mr. Fadnavis finally resigned from the post.
Addressing the media after tendering his resignation, Mr. Fadnavis said, "We fought together as Mahayuti, but Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray in his first press conference [after election results] said that all option to form govt is open. It was a shock for us."
He refuted Shiv Sena's claim that BJP was ready for a 50:50 formula.
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'Governor looking at various options'
The Maharashtra Chief Secretary has called for an urgent meeting of all secretaries following the resignation of Mr. Fadnavis.
The oath-taking ceremony for newly-elected MLAs to Maharashtra Assembly, which was scheduled for the coming week, has been called off.
Raj Bhavan officials said the Governor was examining options to appoint the next caretaker of the government or start proceedings for imposing President's rule.
In the meantime, Shiv Sena has decided to shift its MLAs to a resort in Madh island till November 15 . The party has requested Mumbai police commissioner Sanjay Barve to provide security at the premises.