Devendra Fadnavis submitted his resignation as Chief Minister to Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Tuesday as, he said, BJP fell short of the required number of MLAs to win the scheduled floor test.
The BJP leader headed directly to the Raj Bhawan to submit his resignation after holding a press conference where he announced that he was stepping down from his post.
His resignation came close on the heels of his deputy Ajit Pawar’s resignation from his post, for “personal reasons”.
Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar were sworn-in as Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister respectively early on Saturday morning, sending a shocker to the Shiv Sena, Congress, NCP camp which was almost in the final stages of announcing a formal alliance to stake claim to form the government.
Stung by the Governor’s decision, Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP moved the Supreme Court demanding an immediate floor test in the Maharashtra Assembly.
In its decision today, the apex court asked the Fadnavis government to prove its majority in 288-member Assembly before 5 pm on Wednesday.
Addressing the press conference, Fadanvis said the people had given their mandate for BJP-Shiv Sena government but the latter wanted the chief minister’s post to be rotated, something which was never agreed upon.
“They took benefit of the situation and started bargaining. They (Shiv Sena) took shelter of a deal which was never struck,” he said.
The BJP leader wished all the best to the Shiv Sena-Congress-NCP combine but cast doubts whether the “three-wheeler government” would be stable.
“I wish all the best to whoever will form the government,” Fadnavis told media, adding that “I doubt that this three-wheeler government will be stable.”
The BJP had won 105 seats in last month’s assembly polls followed by Shiv Sena 56, NCP 54 and Congress 44.
The Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP combine claims to have 162 MLAs with it.
Special Assembly session: New Maharashtra MLAs to take oath at 8 am on Wednesday
Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has called a special session of the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday where floor test will be conducted after pro-tem speaker administers oath to the 288 newly-elected members, an official said on Tuesday.
The oath will be administered by newly-appointed pro-tem speaker Kalidas Kolambkar at the session, which will begin at 8 am.
Kolambkar was appointed by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Tuesday evening on directions of the Supreme Court which ordered a floor test on Wednesday.
“Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has called a special session of the legislative assembly on Wednesday. The session would begin at 8am for the oath-taking ceremony of the 288 members. Following the oath, the pro-tem speaker will call for a floor test,” the official said.
The newly-elected members couldn’t take oath even one month after the results of the assembly polls were announced, due to political ups and downs in the state.
The state remained under President’s Rule for a period of 13 days between November 12 and November 23 in the wake of no political party able to form a government and the Assembly in suspended animation.
Earlier in the day, ordering a floor test for the Devendra Fadnavis government, the apex court asked Koshyari to appoint a pro-tem speaker and ensure all elected members of the House are sworn in on Wednesday itself by 5:00 PM.
However, the BJP-led government, which was formed on the support of NCP leader Ajit Pawar on November 23, collapsed on Tuesday afternoon, after Pawar stepped down as deputy chief minister and Fadnavis as chief minister.
The ‘Maha Vikas Aghadi’ comprising the Shiv Sena, the NCP and the Congress, on Monday submitted a letter claiming support of 162 MLAs to the governor.
Earlier in the day, Fadnavis announced that he was stepping down as the BJP lost majority in view of Ajit Pawar resigning from his post.
The NCP has announced that Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray would be the next chief minister of Maharashtra.
