Maharashtra Govt Formation Updates: Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress combine’s chief minister candidate Uddhav Thackeray staked claim to form government in Maharashtra on Tuesday. Thackeray reached Raj Bhavan on Tuesday night after a meeting between the three parties. During the meeting, Thackeray was unanimously elected as the leader. The Shiv Sena chief will be sworn in on November 28 at Shivaji Park, the party announced after his visit to the Raj Bhavan.
Earlier on Tuesday, Devendra Fadnavis stepped down as the CM hours after the Supreme Court demanded a floor test. Fadnavis’ resignation was preceded by Ajit Pawar stepping down as deputy CM. The resignations came just three days after they took oath in a dramatic swearing-in ceremony last Saturday. Speaking at a press conference in which he announced his decision to step down, Fadnavis called Shiv Sena ‘power hungry’. “Shiv Sena lied to us and started talking to other parties after poll results. Shiv Sena claims to be a party that believes in Hindutva, but today, their Hindutva is bowing to Sonia Gandhi. They are swearing by Sonia Gandhi,” he said, adding,”Shiv Sena told us even before election results came that they will go with anyone who gives them the CM post.”
FE EXPLAINED | What is Protem Speaker?
On Tuesday morning, the Supreme Court ordered to hold the floor test in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on November 27. The apex court also directed Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to ensure that all elected MLAs are sworn in on Wednesday itself. The pro-tem Speaker will administer oath to the newly elected members. The entire exercise has to be completed by 5 PM, a bench comprising Justices NV Ramana, Ashok Bhushan and Sanjiv Khanna said. The bench also said the entire proceedings have to be telecast live.
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Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress combine's Chief Ministerial nominee Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday night reached Raj Bhavan and staked claim to form government in Maharashtra.
Resolution proposing Uddhav Thackeray's name as the Chief Minister candidate and leader of 'Maha Vikas Aghadi' passed unanimously by all MLAs. NCP chief Sharad Pawar presents him a bouquet
Mumbai: Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde moves resolution to form 'Maha Vikas Aghadi', the alliance of Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress. NCP's Nawab Malik & Congress' Nitin Raut second it.
"Ajit Pawar will not come for today's meeting. There has not been contact with him. But I have been meeting him since 2 days, I will meet him today as well," NCP leader Jayant Patil says ahead of the joint meeting of Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress.
Leaders of Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress are meeting at Trident Hotel in Mumbai for a meeting. MLAs of the three parties are likely to elect Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray as their leader and CM candidate.
The first session of the new Maharashtra Assembly will begin at 8 am on Wednesday. Protem Speaker Kalidas Kolambkar will administer oath to the newly-elected MLAs.
Shiv Sena was not born to do communal politics , they came into existence to serve the people of Maharashtra. Shiv Sena was spoiled after joining hand with BJP, Nationalist Congress Party leader Nawab Malik says.
BJP MLA Kalidas Kolambkar takes oath as Protem Speaker, at Raj Bhawan in Mumbai. Oath administered by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari
Governor has asked me to continue as caretaker CM till alternative arrangements are not made, says Devendra Fadnavis in a tweet. "Submitted my resignation as Maharashtra CM to Hon Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari ji. Hon Governor asked me to function as caretaker CM till alternative arrangements," Fadnavis tweeted.
BJP's Kalidas Kolambkar has been appointed pro-tem Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly. Kolambkar, who represents Wadala constituency in the Assembly, is an eight-time MLA.
Turn of events in Maharashtra have put role of President under scanner. He should shed his RSS-BJP cloak and invite 'Maha Vikas Aghadi ' of Sena-NCP-Congress, says Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari.
Have requested Maharashtra governor to accept Fadnavis' resignation and invite Shiv Sena-NCP-Cong alliance to form government. We demand that Uddhav Thackeray be invited to form government in Maharashtra immediately: Prithviraj Chavan tells news agency PTI.
Devendra Fadnavis has reached Raj Bhawan where he will meet Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and tender his resignation as Maharashtra CM.
The hunger for power is such that now Shiv Sena leaders are even willing to ally with Sonia Gandhi. I doubt that this three-wheeler government will be stable but BJP will work as an effective opposition and try to raise the voice of people, says Devendra Fadnavis
Devendra Fadnavis has announced his resignation as Maharashtra CM. He will be meeting Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari shortly to tender his resignation. "We don't have the numbers. BJP doesn't break parties. We will work in Opposition. I thank Shiv Sena for five years of alliance," Fadnavis said addressing a press conference in Mumbai.
The BJP, Shiv Sena contested the elections together and got a majority. However, Sena played a bargaining game. Rotational CM was not promised: Devendra Fadnavis
Confirming the Ajit Pawar has resigned from the post of deputy CM, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut has said that Uddhav Thackeray will the CM of Maharashtra for full 5-year term.
NCP leader Jayant Patil said that he has no information about Ajit Pawar's resignation. "It is you from whom I have come to know about the resignation of Ajit Pawar. I don't know about it, I would like to make a comment on it only after getting to know everything about it," he said.
Ramdas Athawale: We respect the Supreme Court's order of carrying out a floor test tomorrow. NDA doesn't have the majority yet, I am sure we will get it by tomorrow as we trust Ajit Pawar that he will bring his MLAs.
NCP leader Ajit Pawar has reportedly stepped down as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra. This comes just a day before the floor test is to take place in the state. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will address media at 3:30 pm today. | READ MORE HERE
NCP Jayant Patil: I hope the Governor will listen to us and make Balasaheb Thorat, the senior-most member of the House, the Pro-Tem Speaker. The floor test will take place tomorrow.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will address the media at 3.30 pm today. This comes a day before the floor test in Maharashtra.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar met a few of his party leaders who are said to be ‘upset’ with the party. Sharad Pawar and NCP chief spokesperson Nawab Malik reached Sofitel Hotel in Mumbai on Tuesday to meet 13 party MLAs who are staying there, reports said. CLICK HERE READ MORE
BJP leader Ram Madhav on Tuesday took a dig at the show of strength displayed by the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress combine last evening said the majority has to be proven on the floors of the House and not in hotels. "We are confident that on the floor of the House our government will be able to prove its majority," he said.
News agency ANI reported that NCP, Shiv Sena and Congress MLAs to hold a joint meeting at 5 pm today.
Meeting between NCP and Shiv Sena leaders underway at Sofitel Hotel in Mumbai. Leaders including Sharad Pawar, Praful Patel, Jayant Patil, Supriya Sule, Chhagan Bhujbal, Uddhav Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray and Sanjay Raut present.
Security has been beefed up around the Vidhan Bhawan in Mumbai in view of the Supreme Court's order directing a floor test tomorrow. Elaborate police bandobast has been made to avoid any untoward incident outside the premises. No unauthorised person will be allowed to enter the Vidhan Bhavan and entry passes will be issued to only those who are authorised to enter the premises.
NCP MP Majeed Memon said that the truth will come out on Wednesday. "The government which was formed in the dark will be exposed in the light. It will not be able to tolerate the light and will fall. As far as the constitutional process is concerned, it will be done tomorrow," he said.
Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi has said that she is confidence of a win in the Maharashtra Assembly floor test. "Absolutely," she said when asked if she is confident of winning the floor test.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday hailed the Supreme Court’s direction calling for a floor test in the Maharashtra Assembly on Wednesday. “I am grateful to Hon’ble SC for upholding democratic values and constitutional principles. It’s heartening that the Maharashtra Verdict came on the Constitution Day, a tribute to Bharatratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar!” Pawar tweeted.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar and party leader Nawab Malik reach Sofitel Hotel to meet senior NCP leaders. The NCP has 54 MLAs including Ajit Pawar. While Ajit Pawar has sided with the BJP, Sharad Pawar has sided with the Shiv Sena and NCP.
BJP leader Rao Saheb Danve said that the party will prove majority on the floor of the House. "Tonight at 9 pm, all BJP MLAs will meet at Garware Club in Mumbai," he said.
Senior Congress leader and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that the NCP-Shiv Sena-Congress will form the government. "I hope they will. We all respect the Supreme Court, we should respect its judgement," he said.
Maharashtra Congress President Balasaheb Thorat elected Congress Legislative Party leade. The Congress has 44 MLAs in the 288-member Legislative Assembly.
BJP MLA Haribhau Bagade arrives at the residence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. He was the Speaker of the previous assembly and officially, he is the Speaker till the next Speaker assumes charge. He arrived in the official car of the Speaker.
All the BJP MLAs have been asked to reach the Wankhade Stadium by 9 PM tonight. The BJP has 105 MLAs in the 288-member Legislative Assembly.
NCP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar arrives at the residence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said that the three parties -- Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress can prove majority in 30 minutes. "Truth has won. The court has given 30 hours, we can prove majority in 30 minutes," he said.
Senior Advocate Devadutt Kamat, appearing for Congress-NCP-Shiv Sena, said that the Supreme Court has directed Floor Test tomorrow at 5pm, to be conducted by Pro-tem Speaker. During Floor Test, there will be no secret ballot and proceedings will be telecast live
Ashish Shelar, Raosaheb Danve, Girish Mahajan, Bhupendra Yadav and other BJP leaders arrive at the residence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for party's core committee meeting.