Mumbai:
Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Saturday took the first attempt to break the deadlock over the government formation. In an official communiqué issued from Raj Bhavan, the Governor has asked the leader of elected members of the single largest party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Devendra Fadnavis to indicate the willingness and ability of his party to form the government in Maharashtra.
The statement further notes that Elections to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly were held on October 21 and the results were declared on October 24. However, despite the passage of 15 days, no single party or alliance of parties has come forward to form the government. The Governor has therefore decided to explore the possibility of formation of Government and on Saturday asked the leader of the elected members of the single largest party, that is BJP, to convey its willingness and ability to form the government.
Reacting to the development state Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) spokesperson Nawab Mallik stated that the Governor ought to have ascertained whether the BJP has the majority or not. In a statement issued here on Saturday evening, he said that the Governor ought to have started this process of government formation much earlier. Mallik also added that the Governor should take care that there are no attempts made at horse-trading of party MLAs.
It may be recalled that ever since the results were announced on October 24, both Fadnavis, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray and his trusted lieutenant Sanjay Raut have been trading charges against each other. Thackeray has stuck to his demand that the BJP stick to its pre-poll assurance of rotational chief minister and equal sharing of ministerial portfolios. A contention which Fadnavis initially denied having agreed to, later added that no such decision was made in his presence and that party president Amit Shah having denied any such promise being made to Sena.
The Sena president further stated that he had promised his father late Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray that he will one day install a Shivsainik as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Both Raut and Uddhav dared Fadnavis and BJP to prove their majority. Both were later supported by Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) who accused the BJP of indulging in horse-trading, a charge later denied by Fadnavis. Both the Congress and NCP have pre-conditioned the Sena that it should first pull out of the BJP led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) before they can extend support to its bid to form the government.
The frosty ties between the two quarreling allies took a further nose dive with Fadnavis accusing the Sena of betrayal. Fadnavis stated the BJP was shocked at Thackeray openly stating that he had other options available. He accused the Sena of shutting all channels of communication and instead was hobnobbing with the Congress, NCP. Refuting the charge, Thackeray remarked that he was not interested in talking to people who called him a liar.
The Governor then had summoned state Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni for advice on constitutional provisions available before him. As per the laid down provisions, the Governor first has to invite the single largest political party to stake claim at government formation. If the single largest party declines the offer or later on is unable to prove its majority on the floor of the house, invites the second largest party in the legislative assembly to prove its majority. If an alliance government is formed, the issue is resolved.
Otherwise after exploring all the options of government formation the Governor can in his report recommend imposition of Presidents Rule as the last option. Meanwhile, NCP president Sharad Pawar has convened a meeting of the 54 newly elected NCP MLAs on November 12 to decide on future course of action. Meanwhile, Sena has bundled out its 56 MLAs to Hotel Retreat in Malad West. Whereas, the Congress was contemplating shifting its 44 MLAs either to Jaipur or Bhopal.
