Maharashtra brought under President’s Rule, Assembly under Suspended Animation

* Congress slams Governor’s move

* Shiv Sena moves Supreme Court

NEW DELHI: After nearly three weeks of political drama, Maharashtra was on Tuesday brought under President’s Rule and its Assembly was placed under suspended animation, with the Centre saying it was “left with no alternative”.

On a day of swift developments, Maharashtra Governor B.S. Koshyari sent his recommendation to the Union Home Ministry (MHA) calling for imposing President’s Rule around noon, saying his attempts to put a government in place in the State had failed.

Soon after, Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened a meeting of the Cabinet which conveyed to President Ram Nath Kovind its recommendation for imposition of central rule in the State. The meeting was held just before the Prime Minister left for Brazil on a visit to attend the BRICS Summit.

The President accepted the recommendation and signed the notification for imposition of the central rule in the State.

The MHA on Tuesday said the President’s Rule was imposed in Maharashtra with the Assembly in suspended animation, after political parties failed to form government even 20 days after the results of the Assembly polls were declared last month.

In a statement, Home Ministry spokesperson Vasudha Gupta said, “Governor (B.S. Koshyari) made the recommendation to the President in the noon explaining that he made all attempts but not succeeded in efforts.”

She said the recommendation made by the Governor to the President was refered to Home Ministry “upon which Union Cabinet decided on Tuesday to recommend to President to issue a proclamation under Article 356 of the Constitution, imposing President’s Rule in the State of Maharashtra and keep the Assembly in suspended animation.”

The spokesperson said the Government sent its report to the President as it was “left with no alternative”.

In the 288-member Assembly, the BJP emerged as the single largest party, winning 105 seats in the elections whose results were declared on October 24.

The BJP, along with its pre-poll alliance partner Shiv Sena, was in a comfortable position to form the government. But the Shiv Sena, with 56 members, insisted on rotational chief ministership and because of differences on this issue, it refused to join the BJP in government formation.

On Sunday, the BJP announced it would not form government in Maharashtra in view of its ally Shiv Sena’s stand to not join them in the efforts.

The Shiv Sena has since been trying to form government on its own with the help of the Congress and the NCP, which had won 44 and 54 seats, respectively.

Koshyari invited the BJP first to form the government on Saturday, but after the saffron party said it was not in a position to show majority, he invited Shiv Sena to form government on Sunday and gave a deadline of 24 hours. The Shiv Sena could not present support of adequate number of MLAs during this time period.

Subsequently, Koshyari invited the NCP to form the government in the State on Monday evening, giving it time till 8 pm on Tuesday to demonstrate its support. However, before the expiry of the deadline, the President’s Rule was imposed.

Meanwhile, the Congress on Tuesday slammed Maharashtra Governor’s B.S. Koshiyari’s move of recommending President’s Rule in the State without giving the stipulated time to the stakeholders and not inviting the Congress when he called all the other parties.

“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. Four grave violations of the Constitutional Scheme, as expressed in SR Bommai judgment, stand out,” Congress’ chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said in a series of tweets.

“In absence of any single party having majority In Maharashtra, the Governor should have called the single largest pre-poll alliance i.e., the BJP-Shiv Sena together; then the second largest post-poll alliance i.e., the Congress-NCP.”

Surjewala also questioned the Governor for not calling the Congress.

“In case the Governor called individual parties, why did he not call the INC? And above all; Why the completely arbitrary allotment of time? 48 hours to BJP, 24 hrs to Sena and not even 24 hours to NCP, before the President’s Rule,” he said, terming the move “unashamedly dishonest and politically motivated”.

Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena has moved the Supreme Court, seeking a hearing against the Maharashtra Governor’s decision not allocating three days to get letters of support from the NCP and the Congress to stake claim on formation of the government. (IANS)

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