In the dizzying turn of events that post-election Maharashtra government formation has been, Saturday morning gave surprising news to many.
After a month-long deadlock and sparring between BJP and Shiv Sena, Devendra Fadnavis took oath as Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress party’s Ajit Pawar as Deputy CM this morning.
This will be Devendra Fadnavis second term as Maharashtra CM. Ajit Pawar is the nephew of NCP head Sharad Pawar.
Minutes after the oath-taking, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted congratulating Fadnavis and Pawar.
To be noted that there was President rule in Maharashtra since last week, which was suddenly lifted for the oath taking ceremony today.
Till last night Shiv Sena, Congress, and NCP were in talks to form the government with Uddhav Thackrey as CM. According to sources, the ministerial post division was also discussed with Shiv Sena to get 16 ministerial berths, NCP – 15 and the Congress 12 posts. Until late night Shiv Sena leaders, Sharad Pawar and Congress leaders were in discussions on the post of Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and other portfolios.
Sharad Pawar had met PM Modi at the Parliament premises on 21 November, that is being hinted as the point of U-Turn for NCP, but Sharad Pawar NCP still continued having discussions with Shiv Sena and Congress until last night.
According to ANI reports, NCP chief Sharad Pawar was part of discussions for the formation of Devendra Fadnavis-led Maharashtra government and he was the one who approved Ajit Pawar name for Deputy CM.
But Sharad Pawar is denying to be part of this coalition and there seems to be a hint of breaking of NCP with Ajit Pawar and some MLAs.
Shiv Sena leader, Sanjay Raut is describing the turn of events as “Sin done in middle of night”. He said Ajit Pawar was with them in all the discussions till last night. BJP with power of money and might has cheated the people of Maharashtra and they will pay for it.
#WATCH Mumbai: NCP's Ajit Pawar takes oath as Deputy CM, oath administered by Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari at Raj Bhawan. pic.twitter.com/TThGy9Guyr
— ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2019
Speaking to Media, Devendra Fadnavis said that the state did not need a ‘khichdi’ government the way Shiv Sena was trying to form.
Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackrey might address a joint press conference today.
The BJP won 105 seats, while the Shiv Sena won 56 seats in the Assembly elections. Opposition Congress won 44 seats, while the NCP won in 54 constituencies
