President's rule insult to mandate, says BJP's Mungantiwar
BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar: “The imposition of President's rule is an insult to the mandate of the people. Instead of solving questions of farmers and poor some parties have in the greed to get power have brought the state to this situation. We will clear our position in due course and are now watching the developments closely.”
'Sena, Congress-NCP will work on a common minimum programme': Uddhav
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and son Aaditya Thackeray address the media at a Madh Island resort:
Uddhav: "BJP had said that the Shiv Sena was talking to Congress-NCP thrice a day but today, in the joint press conference, it is clear that Sena contacted Congress-NCP for the first time only yesterday. On some issues, like Congress-NCP, Shiv Sena also wants clarity. That is why we had asked for 48 hours' time. But instead, Governor gave us six months (President's Rule). Now, Sena, Congress-NCP will sit together and work on a common minimum program.
"I am looking at alliances such as PDP-BJP and others and compiling that information. We will come together and then come before you.
"BJP trying to prove me a liar is angering. We still consider BJP a friend. They have given us best wishes to go with Congress-NCP. Hindutva is our ideology. Not fulfilling promises is not Hindutva. Politics might be going in a new direction now. Let us wait. We will work out common points with Congress-NCP."
When asked if BJP as an option is over, Uddhav said, "They have finished that option, not me. They approached me before the Lok Sabha elections this year for an alliance. Whatever was decided, I simply wanted its implementation. Chandrakant Patil (BJP leader) said BJP does not want to form the government and has given us best wishes.
"Our claim to form the government, that we presented before Governor, still stays the same."
The NCP and Congress are holding a joint press conference with NCP leader Sharad Pawar and Congress leader Ahmed Patel taking questions.
“I condemn the manner in which President’s rule was imposed in Maharashtra,” Mr. Patel says.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar meets Congress leaders at YB Chavan centre in Mumbai on November 12, 2019. Photo: Special Arrangement
Supreme Court not to hear Shiv Sena petition today
The Supreme Court will not accord an urgent hearing on November 12 itself to the petition filed by the Shiv Sena challenging the Maharashtra Governor’s decision of not granting it three days to submit the letter of support for government formation in the State, a party lawyer said.
The lawyer said the Court registry informed that it will “not be possible to constitute a bench today“.
“The Supreme Court has asked us to mention the writ petition that we filed at 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday before the court,” Advocate Sunil Fernandes, who filed the petition on behalf of the Shiv Sena, told PTI.
He said the fresh/second petition challenging the imposition of President’s rule in the state is being readied.
“The decision on when to file it (fresh petition) will be taken up tomorrow,” he said.
Ram Nath Kovind signs proclamation imposing President’s rule in Maharashtra
President's rule has been imposed in Maharashtra, a Ministry of Home Affairs spokesperson has confirmed. President's rule in the State is for six months, but can be withdrawn earlier as well.
At a press briefing, an MHA official said that the results came 15 days ago, there was no probability of a government formation so the Governor recommended President's rule.
The Governor made a recommendation in a letter dated Nov 12 that a situation has arisen in which it was not possible to form a stable government in the State. He is satisfied that the government of State cannot be carried out in accordance with provisions of the Constitution. Left with no alternative, the Governor was constrained to send a report under provision of Article 356 of the Constitution.
Recommendation made by the Governor to the President was sent to the MHA after which the Union Cabinet has decided today to recommend to the President to issue a proclamation under Article 356 (1) of the Constitution, thereby imposing President's Rule in relation to State of Maharashtra and keeping the Legislative Assembly under suspended animation. The President has approved the proclamation.
The report was sent in the afternoon after which the Cabinet meeting was convened. There was no exclusive mention of horse trading in the Governor's report to the Centre. It mostly said that all efforts failed to form the government in Maharashtra.
This is the full text of the statement by the MHA:
"The Governor of Maharashtra in his letter dated 12.11.2019 has made a recommendation to the President that he made attempts to explore the possibility of formation of Government by having appropriate communications with all the political parties who could have formed the Government in alliance with other political parties. Unfortunately his attempts to so have failed so far.
Keeping in view the situation, circumstances and ground realities, the Governor is satisfied that the situation has arisen in the State of Maharashtra in which it is impossible to constitute and/or form a stable Government in the State.
He is satisfied that the Government of the State of Maharashtra cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.
Left with no other alternatives, he is constrained to send his report under the provisions of Article 356 of the Constitution.
The Governor has, therefore, recommended that the present Assembly be kept in suspended animation for the present and the President of India is requested to take such action/decision as appropriate.
The Union Cabinet considered report of the Governor and has approved making a recommendation to President to issue a Proclamation under article 356(1) of the Constitution imposing President’s rule in relation to the State of Maharashtra and keeping the State Legislative Assembly under suspended animation.
The Hon’ble President has approved the Proclamation."
Congress leaders have arrived at YB Chavan centre to hold talks with the NCP chief Sharad Pawar. Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, KC Venugopal, and Ahmed Patel arrive. Uddhav Thackeray is going to the Madh island resort where his party MLAs are put up, to hold a meeting.
The MHA has sent the file recommending President’s rule in Maharashtra to the President’s office for signing.
Grave travesty of democracy, mockery of constitution: Surjewala
Governor Koshiyari has committed a grave travesty of the democracy and made a mockery of the Constitutional process in recommending President’s Rule in Maharashtra, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala has said.
Quoting the S.R. Bommai judgment , Mr. Surjewala said the Governor should have called Congress, the fourth largest party before taking a call on President's Rule, if the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP failed to form government.
He also claimed the Governor didn't allot adequate time. "Why the completely arbitrary allotment of time? 48 hours to BJP, 24 hrs to Sena & not even 24 hours to NCP, before the President's Rule. This is unashamedly dishonest and politically motivated," Mr. Surjewala tweeted.
Butchery of constitution, says Sitaram Yechury
CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury has dubbed Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari's decision as "butchery of our constitution".
"The Governor of Maharashtra had given time till 8.30 pm today to NCP leader Shri Sharad Pawar. Then how can he recommend President’s rule before the expiry of the deadline? This is the butchery of our Constitution," tweeted.
Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla has confirmed to The Hindu that Maharashtra will be heading to President's Rule.
He said there will be a press meet at 5.30 pm to give the details.
Sena moves SC
Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray arrives at Matoshree, his residence after meeting Sanjay Raut at Leelavati hospital.
The Shiv Sena has moved the Supreme Court against the Governor's decision to allow only 24-hours to the party to show the ability to form government. Earlier, the party pointed out that the Governor gave 48-hours for BJP to prove its majority.
In the petition, Shiv Sena has challenged the "arbitrary, unconstitutional, unreasonable, capricious and malafide" decision of the Governor on Nov 11 to reject their request for three days to submit letters of support to prove majority to form government in Maharashtra.
Maharashtra Governor recommends President's Rule in the State
Even as the Nationalist Congress Party, Shiv Sena and the Congress are discussing ways to form the government in Maharashtra, Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has recommended President's Rule in the State.
A media release from the Raj Bhavan at 3.16 pm on Tuesday read: "The Governor of Maharashtra Shri Bhagat SIngh Koshyari having been satisfied that as the government of the State of Maharashtra connot be carried on in accordance with the Constitution, has today submitted a report as contemplated by the provisions of Article 356 of the Constitution."
The Governor's Office has confirmed that no recommendation for President's Rule in Maharashtra has been made, NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik told media on Tuesday afternoon.
He also said the party has authorised Sharad Pawar to form alternative govt to end political instability in the State.
Confirming that talks with Congress and Shiv Sena are continuing, Mr. Malik said Mr. Pawar will be meeting senior Congress leaders Ahmed Patel, Mallikarjun Kharge and K.C. Venugopal at 5 pm.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is chairing a Cabinet meet ahead of his Brazil visit this afternoon to attend the BRICS summit.
President's Rule in Maharashtra is one of the agendas at the Cabinet meeting, senior government official told The Hindu.
President's Rule in Maharashtra?
Maharshtra Governor office staff including Principal Secretary to Governor Santosh Kumar, Deputy Secretary Ranjit Kumar chairing a crucial meeting since morning on political developments in Maharshtra. The meeting is ongoing, sources in Raj Bhavan said.
A curcial meet between senior staff at Raj Bhavan is ongoing to discuss modalities of imposing President's Rule in the State, sources in the Governor's office said. The meeting is being chaired by Principal Secretary to Governor Santosh Kumar, Deputy Secretary Ranjit Kumar.
Senior Congress leaders K C Venugopal, Mallikarjun Kharge and Ahmed Patel will be travelling to Mumbai to meet NCP chief Sharad Pawar.
Earlier in the day, Ms. Gandhi spoke to Mr. Pawar. The Congress is yet to decide on supporting Shiv Sena to form the government in Maharashtra.
Congress leaders are meeting at Sonia Gandhi's residence to discuss Maharashtra logjam.
When The Hindu contacted former Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, he said Ms. Gandhi "is positive" of supporting the Shiv Sena.
"The Sena quit NDA only yesterday. The talks to form a government began only a day ago. Despite that, our president Sonia ji is positive about the support. But everything cannot be finalised in a day or two," he said.
"Everything has to be planned in detail. Any attempt to rush things will be problematic in future. It may take more than a day or two. But once planned, it will be without any glitch," Mr. Chavan added.
Venugopal, Kharge 'defer' Mumbai visit
Senior Congress leaders K C Venugopal and Mallikarjun Kharge, who were supposed to come to Mumbai on Tuesday 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.
“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,” he said.
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Monday discussed the state’s political situation with Pawar and accordingly, it was decided that the state NCP and Congress leaders “will discuss the terms and conditions and a ‘common minimum programme’ for government formation” later in the day, he said.
Congress giving Maharashtra on a platter to BJP: AAP
With the Congress taking it slow on government formation in Maharashtra, the Aam Aadmi Party’s state leader Preeti Sharma Menon on Tuesday said the Congress leadership always puts the party before the nation and claimed that they are giving Maharashtra “on a platter” to the BJP.
“Congress leadership always puts their party before the nation. In Lok Sabha, they stubbornly refused regional alliances and helped BJP sweep. Now they are giving Maharashtra on a platter to the BJP. It’s moribund attitude will decimate it soon,” Menon tweeted.
She also said that the Congress MLAs in Maharashtra should join Sharad Pawar, President of Nationalist Congress Party, adding “it’s really time for Congress to die”.
Pawar visits Sena MP Sanjay Raut in hospital
NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday visited Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut at a hospital in Mumbai where the latter underwent angioplasty.
Mr. Pawar’s visit to 57-year-old Raut, admitted to the Lilavati Hospital here, comes in the midst of the ongoing political drama in Maharashtra.
What transpired between the two leaders during the meet, which came in the backdrop of the political crisis in the state, was not immediately known.
The NCP president was accompanied by his grandnephew and MLA Rohit Pawar.
President accepts Sawant's resignation
President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday accepted the resignation of Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant from the Union council of ministers with immediate effect, a Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesperson said. Mr. Sawant’s resignation has been accepted on advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to the spokesperson.
"The President of India, as advised by the Prime Minister, has accepted the resignation of Shri Arvind Ganpat Sawant from the Union Council of Ministers, with immediate effect, under clause (2) of Article 75 of the Constitution.
"Further, as advised by the Prime Minister, the President has directed that Shri Prakash Javadekar, Cabinet Minister, be assigned the charge of the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, in addition to his existing portfolios," the release from Rashtrapati Bhavan said.
Maharashtra Congress MLAs stay put in Jaipur resort
Amid high drama around the formation of a government in Maharashtra, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday briefed the Congress MLAs-elect staying at a luxury resort near here about the party’s stand and obtained their views on the latest developments. The Congress has said that it is in discussion with the Nationalist Congress Party.
Mr. Gehlot, accompanied by his Chhattisgarh counterpart, Bhupesh Baghel, reached the resort late in the evening and had a meeting for more than 30 minutes with the newly elected legislators. The MLAs were shifted to the resort on the Jaipur-Delhi National Highway, about 20 km from the city, on Friday and Saturday to thwart the “poaching attempts” during the current impasse.
Congress divided in Maharashtra
Amid the political uncertainty in Maharashtra, the newly elected Congress MLAs from the State, staying at a luxury resort, near here, on Sunday authorised party president Sonia Gandhi to nominate the leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP).
The party declared that it had accepted the mandate to sit in the Opposition. Senior Congress leader and former Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde arrived in the evening to convey Ms. Gandhi’s message to the MLAs and interact with them to get their views on the party’s stand on the formation of a government.
(With inputs from our Correspondents and agencies)
