Maharashtra govt formation: Oppn doing 'outright politics', says Shah

Maharashtra government formation: Shiv Sena has decided not to mention plea challenging Maharashtra Governor's refusal to give it more time

11:18 PM

Sena's demands unacceptable, BJP not in favour of mid-term polls: Amit Shah

BJP president Amit Shah on Wednesday rejected the opposition's criticism of President's rule in Maharashtra as "outright politics" to gain public sympathy, and said Shiv Sena's demands, including sharing the chief minister's post, were "unacceptable" to his party. In his statement and tweets, Shah, also the Union home minister, said he was not in favour of mid-term elections in the state and noted that all parties have six months to stake claim to form government if they manage a majority.

10:17 PM

Amit Shah accuses opposition of doing 'outright politics' over President's rule in Maharashtra

Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday accused the opposition of doing "outright politics" over the Centre's decision to impose President's rule in Maharashtra, and asserted that any party can even now stake claim before the governor to form a new government in the state if it has a majority. Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari gave the parties 18 days to stake claim for forming government and then invited them as well but, Shah said in a series of tweets, none of them could prove a majority.

 

"Even today if any party has a majority, then it may meet the governor to stake claim," Shah, who is also the BJP president, said.

10:15 PM

9:25 PM

9:10 PM

Congress-NCP meet cancelled

A scheduled joint committee meeting of Congress and NCP leaders to work out details of Common Minimum Programme (CMP) for formation of government in Maharashtra with support of the Shiv Sena was cancelled, a visibly upset Ajit Pawar said on Wednesday night, triggering speculations.

 

Ajit, nephew of NCP chief Sharad Pawar, told reporters present outside the Pawar senior's residence here that he was heading towards Baramati, his Assembly constituency, in Pune district.

 

"The meeting stands cancelled...I don't know when it will take place," Ajit said even as he refused to answer queries from media persons.

8:17 PM

8:09 PM

Anyone can approach Maharashtra Governor if they have majority: Shah

BJP president and Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday slammed the opposition parties, saying their effort to raise a ruckus over the imposition of President's Rule in Maharashtra was 'a meaningless exercise to gain public sympathy' and anyone can still approach the Governor if they have a majority to form the government. Speaking to Smita Prakash, Editor, Asian News International in an exclusive interview, Shah also rejected the accusations that the BJP has betrayed the Shiv Sena.

7:48 PM

NCP-Congress meeting scheduled for today cancelled

7:36 PM

No one objected when we said Fadnavis will be CM if alliance wins: Amit Shah

Breaking his silence on Maharastra logjam, BJP president and Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said that no one objected when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and he publicly said that Devendra Fadnavis would be the Chief Minister if the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance wins the Assembly polls in Maharashtra.

 

"Before elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and I said many times in public that if our alliance wins, then Devendra Fadnavis will be the CM. No one objected back then. Now they have come up with new demands which are not acceptable to us," Shah told Smita Prakash, Editor, Asian News International in an exclusive interview here today.

7:26 PM

7:17 PM

Kapil Sibal is putting forth childish arguments: Amit Shah

7:12 PM

If anyone has the numbers they can approach the Governor: Amit Shah

7:11 PM

Governor took wrong decisions in a hurry to impose President's Rule in Maharashtra: Congress

The Congress party on Wednesday accused the BJP-led government of using Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari like a puppet, saying he took 'wrong' decisions in a hurry to recommend the President's Rule in the state.

 

Addressing a press conference here, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said the President's Rule was 'a joke with democracy' and was an ill deed against the established traditions of the Constitution. He said the Supreme Court guidelines were violated. He said the Governor should have first called BJP-Shiv Sena, the single biggest pre-poll alliance, to form the government and then the Congress-NCP.

7:02 PM

7:01 PM

6:18 PM

Would prevent 'Operation lotus' in Maharashtra: Chavan

Senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan said on Wednesday that the party was on alert to prevent a possible "Operation lotus" -- attempts by the BJP to engineer defections from other parties -- in Maharashtra. As President's rule was imposed in the state on Tuesday, the Congress and NCP are in talks about whether to support the Shiv Sena for government formation. Chavan, a former chief minister, alleged while speaking to a news channel that the BJP was trying to stop the Sena from joining hands with the Congress and NCP.

 

5:56 PM

Shiv Sena does not mention plea in SC challenging Maha Guv's refusal to give it more time

The Shiv Sena on Wednesday did not mention in the Supreme Court its plea challenging the Governor's decision not to grant it three days' time to get the letter of support to form the government in Maharashtra. Ahead of the apex court judges commencing the hearing in the courtroom, the lawyers representing Shiv Sena told PTI that the party has preferred not to mention the petition as there was change in the political situation in the state after the imposition of the President's rule.

5:23 PM

Maha govt brought instability by recommending President's rule: Gehlot

The Maharashtra governor has brought instability in the state by recommending President's rule, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot claimed on Wednesday. President's rule was imposed in Maharashtra on Tuesday evening amid a political impasse, after Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari in a report to the Centre stated that formation of a stable government was impossible in the current situation despite all his efforts, drawing flak from non-BJP parties.

5:19 PM

Ex-CM Fadnavis changes Twitter bio to 'Maharashtra's Sevak'

Former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday changed his Twitter bio to 'Maharashtra's Sevak' (Maharashtra's servant). As chief minister, Fadnavis very often used his Twitter handle @Dev_Fadnavis for official communication. He resigned on November 8 after the BJP failed to work out power-sharing deal with ally Shiv Sena despite the two parties winning a majority in the last month's assembly polls.

4:51 PM

Maharashtra govt formation: Cong-NCP meet in Delhi over tie-up with Sena

The Congress and NCP are likely to hold meetings in Delhi in next three to four days to work out modalities of their possible tie-up with the Shiv Sena to form government in Maharashtra.

 

Sources said on Wednesday that NCP chief Sharad Pawar, and senior party leaders Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare are likely to hold parleys with the Congress to evolve a consensus on what should be the policies if the Shiv Sena is to be backed to form government.

 

4:17 PM

Talks on in right direction: Uddhav after meeting Congress leaders

Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday said talks over government formation in Maharashtra were progressing in the "right direction" and a decision will be taken at an appropriate time.

Thackeray said this after a meeting with senior Maharashtra Congress leaders Ashok Chavan, Balasaheb Thorat and Manikrao Thakare at a suburban hotel. The meeting, which took place a day after President's rule was imposed in the state, lasted for about an hour.

"Everything is going fine. Talks are on in the right direction and a decision will be announced at an appropriate time," Thackeray told reporters as he came out of the hotel after meeting the Congress leaders.

3:51 PM

NCP names 5 members for common minimum programme with Cong in Maharashtra

The NCP on Wednesday named its five members for a joint committee to be formed with the Congress for deciding a 'common minimum programme' before their possible alliance with the Shiv Sena for government formation in Maharashtra. NCP's legislature party head Ajit Pawar, its Maharashtra chief Jayant Patil, party veteran Chhagan Bhujbal, Mumbai unit president Nawab Malik and Leader of the Opposition in state Legislative Council Dhananjay Munde will be part of the committee.

 

12:37 PM

Maharashtra Congress leaders meet Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut at Lilavati Hospital

Maharashtra Congress leaders meet Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut at Lilavati Hospital. Raut was admitted at the hospital on November 11 after he complained of chest pain.

11:44 AM

Maharashtra government formation: NCP, Congress to decide on joint discussion today, says Ajit Pawar.

Ajit Pawar, NCP: Today our leader Jayant Patil will call Balasaheb Thorat (President of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee) for further discussions between the parties and discuss the dates from when we can have a joint discussion on how to go ahead.

11:42 AM

Shiv Sena's manifesto different from Congress-NCP's. We'll have to work on that, says Ajit Pawar

Ajit Pawar, NCP: As far as discussions on Shiv Sena goes, we'll do that only after discussing with alliance partners as we had a common manifesto. Shiv Sena's manifesto was different, so we'll have an understanding with Congress first and then go ahead with discussions on Shiv Sena.

11:34 AM

11:13 AM

Maharashtra government formation: We will decide to back one common candidate, says Ajit Pawar

Ajit Pawar, NCP: If there is a situation of defection, three parties A, B and C will decide to back one common candidate then no one can defeat us.

10:48 AM

We aren't filing a fresh petition in SC on behalf of Shiv Sena today: Shiv Sena's lawyer

10:40 AM

Shiv Sena not to mention plea challenging Maha Guv's refusal to give it more time

The Shiv Sena will not mention in the Supreme Court on Wednesday its plea challenging the governor's decision of not granting it 3 days time for getting letter of support for government formation in Maharashtra, according to the party lawyer.

 

The lawyer representing Shiv Sena in the apex court told PTI that the party has preferred not to mention the petition. Advocate Sunil Fernandes, who had filed the petition on behalf of the Shiv Sena, said on Tuesday that the Supreme Court had asked them to mention the writ petition at 10:30 AM on Wednesday.

10:14 AM

BJP deriving 'sadistic pleasure' out of Maha logjam: Sena

In a vitriolic attack on the BJP, the Shiv Sena on Wednesday said it was deriving "sadistic pleasure" out of the struggle of other political parties to form government in Maharashtra.

 

Without taking any names, the Sena, in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana', said those who talk of ethics in politics are currently the "most disruptive". 

 

"If a party with 105 MLAs could not form government, others would struggle for sure. But it does not mean the largest party should rejoice. This attitude of deriving sadistic pleasure has pushed Maharashtra into today's situation," the Sena claimed.