After delay in BJP-Shiv Sena government formation, Maharashtra Governor asks for legal advice

Mumbai, November 7, 2019: Ahead of the end of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly term on Friday, Governor BS Koshyari held discussions with Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni at the Raj Bhavan to discuss legal aspects and constitutional issues. Meanwhile, the gap between BJP and Shiv Sena has widened. Therefore, the chances of government formation are becoming less and the possibility of President’s rule is increasing as the last option.

Earlier a delegation of BJP leaders met the Governor on Thursday afternoon. The BJP delegation did not make any proposal to form the government in the absence of any alternative despite becoming the largest party by winning 105 seats in the assembly elections held last month. After meeting the Governor, State BJP President Chandrakant Patil said that he has met the Governor to consider the legal aspects of the delay in forming the government.

Will not form minority government: BJP

Before going to meet the Governor, senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar, who was in this delegation, said that we are not going to claim before the Governor to form the government. The BJP will not form a minority government under any circumstances. However, BJP leaders Nitin Gadkari and Mungantiwar are still talking about forming a government under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. According to Mungantiwar, the BJP is meeting the Governor only to discuss the current situation. Soon after meeting the BJP leaders, Governor Koshiyari called the Maharashtra Advocate General (AG) Kumbhakoni to Raj Bhavan.

President rule just twice in 59 years

Not being able to form a government in time in a stable state like Maharashtra is a historical event even 15 days after the election results. The state has been under President’s Rule only twice in its 59-year history. President’s rule came into force for only 33 days in February-June, 1980 and later in September-October 2014.

BJP wants to impose President’s rule: Shiv Sena

Here, the Shiv Sena with 56 MLAs attacked BJP, alleging that it wanted to impose President’s rule in the state. Addressing his MLAs, Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray clearly said that only the BJP leader should call him if the Shiv Sena is to be given the Chief Minister’s post, otherwise not. Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut also advised the BJP that if you have a majority, then you form the government, or else tell the public that we want to sit in the opposition.

Will make Shiv Sena Chief Minister in Maharashtra: Raut

Raut said that if the BJP delegation went to meet the Governor, then it is their responsibility to list the majority of 145 MLAs to the Governor. Now only two days are left. They are conspiring that no government should be formed here. This is against the tenets of the constitution. We will also make the Shiv Sena Chief Minister in Maharashtra within the scope of the Constitution and the law. Raut, claiming to prove Shiv Sena’s majority in the House, said that we do not talk without adequate support. All the Shiv Sena MLAs have been kept in a hotel in Mumbai since Thursday.