A month after the Maharashtra Assembly election results were announced on October 24, the political impasse in the State seems to have reached a climax, albeit with a stunning overnight twist. In less than twelve hours, the focus shifted from the NCP-Congress-Shiv Sena alliance that was all set to form a government, to the BJP, as Devendra Fadnavis took oath as the Chief Minister early on Saturday along with NCP leader Ajit Pawar as Deputy CM.
Here’s what transpired in the month leading up to the event:
October 24: Divided outcomes
Elections to the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly were held on October 21. Allies BJP and Shiv Sena emerge as the two largest parties in the results, but both parties see a dip in the number of seats won and their vote share. Meanwhile, the NCP and the Congress are net gainers, with 54 and 44 seats respectively.
Although a BJP-Shiv Sena government with Mr. Fadnavis at the helm seems like a done deal, the Sena insists on a rotational chief ministership. The BJP, however, maintains that it does not intend to share the post.
October 25-29: the early signs of turmoil
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray says he will only have discussions with BJP national president Amit Shah.
Mr. Fadnavis denies acceding to the Sena’s demands. “I have confirmed with Amit Shah and he told me that the BJP has not given any assurance for the Chief Minister’s post for two-and-a-half years (each for the BJP and Sena),” he says.
The two parties, in a bid to boost their numbers, enlist the support of MLAs from small outfits and independents.
The Congress and the NCP stick to their Oppositional role . “We are entering the new Assembly with not only increased strength but also renewed resolve to fight the anti-people policies of the government to the end,” says Nationalist Congress Party’s Mumbai unit president Nawab Malik. Ajit Pawar, NCP leader and nephew of Sharad Pawar, says that his party and the Congress will remain in the Opposition.
October 30- November 2: unlikely alliance on the cards?
On October 30, former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan says the Congress high command shall decide on a possible alliance between the Congress and Shiv Sena: “These are ifs and buts… in case we do receive such a proposal from the Shiv Sena... To the best of my knowledge, no such proposal has come to us,” says the senior Congressman.
Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala adds to the uncertainty. “Maharashtra is an evolving situation and in such an evolving situation, Congress general secretary in-charge Mallikarjun Kharge and the leaders of the State will decide. It won’t be proper to comment on this any further,” he says.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut says that he had a meeting with NCP chief Sharad Pawar . The latter however dismisses it as a routine visit.
Mr. Pawar also met senior Congress leaders in the State on October 31. The leaders then visited Delhi to discuss the party’s stand if the Shiv Sena stakes claim to form the government. The Congress is yet to receive an official proposal from the Sena.
Sanjay Raut also says that the Shiv Sena can form a government on its own , without formally mentioning a possible alliance between the Congress-NCP and Shiv Sena.
While Congress’ Prithviraj Chavan briefs party president Sonia Gandhi , senior leader M. Veerappa Moily says they are open to supporting the Sena.
November 3 - November 12: numerous upheavals
The Shiv Sena steps up its rhetoric again with Mr. Raut claiming to have the support of up to 175 MLAs. A Sena Chief Minister would soon take oath at Shivaji Park, he claims on November 4.
Meanwhile, the BJP tries to bring Shiv Sena back to the table by offering two key portfolios.
In an important development, NCP chief Sharad Pawar meets Congress president Sonia Gandhi on November 4. Though the Congress didn’t comment on the meeting, sources claim Ms. Gandhi has reservations about Sena’s secular credentials.
Finally, NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik says that the party is ready to be an alternative partner in the government.
On November 7, the BJP meets Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to discuss the situation in the State. The Governor later invites the party to form a government.
However, the party is unable to carve up the requisite numbers and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis resigns. Mr. Koshyari then calls NCP and Shiv Sena to stake their claim, but denies extra time to Sena. “We (Shiv Sena) were asked if we were willing to form the government. We have started talks with Congress and NCP. We have informed the Governor we have the willingness but the duration given to us is less. The process needs another 48 hours but he has refused us extra time,” says Aditya Thackeray.
Shiv Sena and Congress put up their MLAs in hotels in Bandra and Jaipur respectively , amidst allegations of poaching by the BJP. The party denies the horse-trading allegations.
On November 12, President’s rule is imposed in the State.
November 12- November 15: consolidating ties
The Shiv Sena moves the Supreme Court against the President’s Rule in the State. The three parties move closer to a formal alliance, working out a Common Minimum Programme. Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray says he will study unusual alliances in the country for information, and maintains that it is the BJP that caused their alliance to fall apart.
Mr. Pawar says there is no need for mid-term polls and the post of Chief Minister shall lie with Shiv Sena.
Shiv Sena announces that it will not attend the national NDA meet in Delhi and has parted ways with the BJP.
November 15-November 22: coming to fruition
T he word ‘secularism’ becomes a bone of contention between the Congress-NCP and Shiv Sena , with the latter inclined to drop it from the CMP. Nonetheless, the three parties move closer to forming a government in an alliance called the ‘Mahavikas Aghadi’.
S harad Pawar meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Parliament ahead of announcing Uddhav Thackeray for the Chief Minister’s post. Senior BJP leaders say the meeting involved talks on the political situation in Maharashtra and that it has reignited hope that the party is not completely sidelined.
On the eve of November 22, the tri-party alliance announces that Uddhav Thackeray is set to assume chief ministership of the State.
November 23: a stunning turn of events
BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis and NCP leader Ajit Pawar take oath as Maharashtra Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister respectively.
“The State is suffering from farmer problems. The instability in the State is not good for the development of the State. It was important to form the government. Ajit dada came with us and we approached the Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and claimed to form the government. The President's rule was removed and we decided to take oath today itself,” says Mr. Fadnavis, while talking to news agency ANI at Raj Bhavan.
President Ram Nath Kovind revokes President's Rule in the State in a notification signed at 5.47 am.
Published - November 23, 2019 06:10 pm IST
