Maharashtra Govt Formation 2019 Latest Updates: Hours after Devendra Fadnavis said that there was no promise of rotational CM, Uddhav Thackeray said that Shiv Sena is not a party of liars and equitable distribution of CM post was indeed promised by the BJP. He said that he had a discussion with BJP chief Amit Shah who had agreed to the 50:50 formula in Maharashtra. “I had promised Balasaheb that there will be a Shiv Sena Chief Minister one day, and I will fulfill that promise, I don’t need Amit Shah and Devendra Fadnavis for that,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Devendra Fadnavis had said that he was deeply disappointed with the way its top leaders behaved after the results were announced. He said that he was upset with Uddhav Thackeray who in his very first media interaction said that all options were open for him. “Unfortunately, the day when results came, Uddhav ji said all options were open for him for the government formation. That was shocking for us as people had given a mandate for alliance and in such circumstances, it was a big question for us that why he said all options are open for him,” he said.
Fadnavis also said that there was no promise of rotational chief ministership to Sena. He said that he was there in all talks with Sena and there was no promise of 2.5 years CM post for Shiv Sena. “I also asked Amit Shah ji if this promise was made to Sena in my absence, he said that Sena had proposed this formula but that was not accepted. There was no such promise,” the former Chief Minister said after stepping down from the post of Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
The BJP and Shiv Sena are yet to begin the talks on government formation in Maharashtra. Both the parties are adamant to take the CM post. The BJP won 105 seats, Shiv Sena 56 in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly in the just concluded elections. The saffron alliance is well past the majority mark of 145, however, both the parties have refused to budge from their stand so far. If they fail to stake claim to form the government by November 9, President’s Rule could be imposed in Maharashtra.
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NCP chief spokesperson Nawab Malik asks why Devendra Fadnavis did not stake claim to form the government before Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari when he is confident that only BJP will form the government. "While informing about his resignation during a press conference, Devendra Fadnavis claimed only BJP will form the government. Why did not he make such a claim before the Honourable Governor then? What it is if not poaching?" Malik tweeted.
Uddhav Thackeray LIVE: We had never closed the doors for discussion, they (BJP) lied to us so we did not talk to them. We have not yet held talks with the NCP.' Earlier in the day, Devendra Fadnavis blamed Shiv Sena for the deadlock in Maharashtra. He said he called to Uddhav Thackray but the latter did not take the call.
Uddhav Thackeray LIVE: I had promised Balasaheb that there will be a Shiv Sena Chief Minister one day, and I will fulfill that promise, I don't need Amit Shah and Devendra Fadnavis for that...it is very sad that while cleaning the Ganga their minds became polluted. I felt bad that we entered into an alliance with the wrong people.
Thackeray says that the promise of equal power distribution was made by the BJP. He said that he had a discussion with BJP chief Amit Shah and he had agreed to the 50:50 formula in Maharashtra.
Thackeray says that he had clearly told Amit Shah for equal distribution of power and responsibility. He said that Sena isn't a party of liars and this is the first time the Thackeray family has been accused of lying. He said that the BJP should not lie.
Devendra Fadnavis: I called Uddhav ji but he did not pick my call. Shiv Sena is 100 per cent responsible for talks failing. They did not take my calls. They stopped the discussion. The alliance is not broken yet, neither they announced nor us. Our parties are still together in the Centre.
Devendra Fadnavis: Balasaheb Thackeray is respected by all of us, in fact, we even never said anything against Uddhav Thackeray. But in the past five years and especially the last 10 days the kind of statements which were made against our top leadership including Modi will not be tolerated.
Devendra Fadnavis: I was there in all talks with Sena and there was no promise of 2.5 years CM post for Shiv Sena. I also asked Amit Shah if this promise was made to Sena, he said that Sena had proposed this formula but that was not accepted. There was no such promise.
Devendra Fadnavis: The way Sena and its leaders behaved in the last few days, I don't think Sena wants to remain with us. I was there in all talks with Sena and there was no promise of 2.5 years CM post for Shiv Sena.
Devendra Fadnavis: Maharashtra should get a government. We will take measures to ensure that we do this. People are accusing that the BJP is trying to buy MLAs. I challenge them to prove the accusation. While forming the government we will not indulge in horse-trading.
Fadnavis says that the governor has asked him to continue as acting chief minister. He also said that he won't be able to make any governance decision but will run a caretaker government till the next government is formed.
Devendra Fadnavis: I again want to make it clear that it was never decided that for 2.5 years each the CM post will be shared. There was never a decision on this issue. Even Amit Shah ji and Nitin Gadkari ji said this was never decided.
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has said that he was deeply disappointed with Shiv Sena when Uddhau Thackerey in his first press conference said that he was open for all the options. He said that he called Thackerey but he did not pick his call and instead chooses to have word with NCP and Congress.
Devendra Fadnavis after stepping down as CM: I thank the people that I got the opportunity to serve Maharashtra for 5 years. I thank Prime Minister, Party President Amit Shah, and JP Nadda for the opportunity.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has resigned as the chief minister of Maharashtra. He will address a press conference at 4 pm.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and other state ministers arrive at Raj Bhawan to meet Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari.
The BJP, Shiv Sena must respect the mandate they have got and form the government. They have the majority. A party that has the biggest number of seats in the Assembly is usually called to form the government. "Don't know why this has not happened so far," Pawar told reporters in Mumbai.
Shiv Sena leader Sunil Prabu says party chief Uddhav Thackeray will be meeting the MLAs who are currently staying at Hotel Rangsharda in Mumbai later today.
The BJP has challenged both Congress and NCP to prove horse trading allegations against it or apologise to people of the state. "Congress and NCP have made allegations of horse trading against us, they should prove this charge within 48 hours or apologise to the people of Maharashtra," BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar told reporters.
There were reports that some Congress MLAs were approached by BJP leaders with money. Yesterday one or two of our MLAs were offered around Rs 25 crore. We will do our best to stop the horse-trading pattern that started in Karnataka, says Nitin Raut
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has said he is ready to mediate between Shiv Sena and BJP in the interest of forming government in Maharashtra.
In a sensational claim, Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar has said that Rs 25-50 crore is being offered to MLAs to switch sides. "Our MLAs are also being contacted. Attempts are being made to lure away MLAs with offers of Rs 25 to Rs 50 crore," news agency PTI quoted Wadettiwar, as saying.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut has asked the BJP 'not to misuse the provision of 'caretaker' government. Raut said his party has no problem if the BJP stakes claim to form government on the basis of being the single largest party. "Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis should resign as the term of the existing assembly is ending on November 9," Sanjay Raut said.
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray is meeting all district office bearers of his party in Mumbai. Thackeray has made it clear that Sena will not compromise on anything other than the Maharashtra CM post as stalemate with the BJP continues.
Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party has accused the BJP of pushing Maharashtra towwards President's Rule as the party has failed to form government even after two weeks of assembly election results announcement. "People of Maharashtra will not tolerate this insult of the state," NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said.
Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar has rejected reports about his party MLAs being shifted to a resort in Jaipur amid attempts of government formation in Maharashtra. 'We have not moved our MLAs anywhere, all our MLAs are at their locations. If some of our MLAs have gone to any place it might be a personal visit,' Wadettiwar, who is also Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly, told ANI.
Congress will not allow the BJP to form government in Maharashtra, party leader Husain Dalwai has said. "I am fully sure that BJP won't be able to poach our MLAs. Some Congress leaders who defected before elections are planning to return," news agency ANI quoted Dalwai, as saying.
As the deadlock between BJP and Shiv Sena showing no signs of untangling, the state appears headed towards President's Rule. 'If President's rule is imposed in Maharashtra, it will be disrespect to people of the state,' Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut says.
The term of outgoing Maharashtra is set to expire on November 9. With no resolution in sight in the ongoing tussle between Shiv Sena and BJP over government formation, the state is headed towards President's Rule. The Sena, BJP alliance have a comfortable majority, however, both the alliance partners are adamant over having the CM post.
Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray visited a Mumbai hotel late on Thursday where his party MLAs are staying. The Sena had alleged that the BJP was trying to 'poach' its MLAs to go ahead with govt formation. Sharad Pawar's NCP too had made similar allegations.
Union Minister Nitin Gakdari is likely to meet Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray at 'Matoshree' today to broker truce between the party and BJP to pave way for government formation in Maharashtra.