Mumbai (TIP)- Maharashtra assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar ruled on Thursday, Feb 15, that deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar’s party was the real Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and turned down demands to disqualify either faction’s lawmakers, marking a victory for the state’s ruling coalition just months ahead of general elections.
The decision – which came weeks after the Election Commission of India also ruled against NCP patriarch Sharad Pawar – is another jolt to the senior leader. Narwekar held that the test of legislative majority was decided in favour of Ajit Pawar after the other two grounds — party constitution and leadership structure — were found to be inconclusive.
The decision was similar to Narwekar’s ruling in the Sena vs Sena case in January, where he also found in favour of chief minister Eknath Shinde but refused to disqualify lawmakers of either faction. The battle for both regional behemoths, the Sena and the NCP, is now likely to be decided in the Supreme Court.
“…I hold that the preliminary issue as to which faction is the real political party is discernible from the legislative majority, which existed when the rival factions emerged. Further I hold that the Ajit Pawar faction had an overwhelming legislative majority when the rival factions emerged,” Narwekar said in a 22-page ruling.
The speaker – who had been asked by the apex court to announce his decision by February 15 – dismissed disqualification petitions filed by either faction, saying that the grounds mentioned did not fall under the jurisdiction of the 10th schedule of the Constitution that deals with the defection of elected representatives.
He, however, decided to reserve his verdict on the chief whip of the party, which is expected to come within a week.
The decision sparked a political controversy. Sharad Pawar faction leader Jitendra Awhad called it a ridiculous judgment. “The assembly speaker Narwekar is playing the role of Dhritarashtra and has become shameless,” he said. Anil Patil, whip of the Ajit Pawar faction, said that Narwekar gave the verdict as per law.
On February 6, ECI termed the Ajit Pawar faction as the real NCP and allowed it to use the party’s name and its electoral symbol. The next day, Sharad Pawar’s faction was renamed Nationalist Congress Party – Sharadchandra Pawar, and was recognised by ECI as a temporary move for the Rajya Sabha polls slated on February 27.
The twin decisions are a boost to the Ajit Pawar-led faction as it safeguards the ruling coalition and affirms Ajit Pawar’s control over the NCP, leaving Sharad Pawar and his supporters to approach the Supreme Court with just months to go for crucial general elections. It also caps, for now, a feud between Sharad Pawar and his nephew Ajit, who joined hands with the BJP and Shinde in a surprise move in 2023.
In his ruling, the speaker proclaimed the NCP split as intraparty dissent and termed the disqualification petition filed against the Ajit Pawar faction as a tool to silence the opposition against Sharad Pawar.
He said forging new alliances and undoing old relationships is the reality of today’s politics and cannot constitute defections.
“I see members, their political leaders and their parties as if through a kaleidoscope: making and breaking into new forms, forging new alliances, undoing old relationships, striking out in unknown directions. This is in the very nature of politics as we see it unfolding before our eyes. It is the reality of politics today. Surely every such action cannot qualify as defection within the meaning of the 10th schedule,” Narwekar said.
To determine which faction constituted the real NCP, he determined three grounds —party constitution, leadership structure and legislative majority.
Narwekar said there was no dispute about the constitution of the NCP, and both factions claimed that their leader was validly elected, the speaker found legislative majority as the only relevant criterion.
He said that the claim of the Ajit Pawar faction that it had the support of 41 of the party’s 53 legislators was not disputed by the Sharad Pawar faction. They also didn’t dispute that the Ajit Pawar faction held a majority not only in the Maharashtra assembly but also in the legislative council and the Nagaland assembly. Narwekar said that the developments in the NCP were the result of intraparty dissent and the 10th Schedule was being misused to suppress dissent. Source: HT
Tag: NCP
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Ajit Pawar faction is real NCP: Maha speaker echoes EC
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As fight for NCP continues, Sharad Pawar launches mission to rebuild party
New Delhi (TIP)- Amid a power struggle with his nephew Ajit Pawar, who revolted against his leadership and joined Shiv Sena-BJP government in Maharashtra, NCP patriarch Sharad Pawar will launch his statewide tour from Nashik to shore up support.
Sharad Pawar, 82, will launch what he calls his mission to rebuild the party from the ground up. He will visit Nashik, Pune, Solapur and some parts of the Vidarbha region — constituencies of Chagan Bhujbal, Dhananjay Mundem and other rebel NCP MLAs.
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis last evening met with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for the second day in a row amid reports that Shiv Sena legislators had been reportedly upset after the NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar joined the state government. Ajit Pawar’s remark that he “wants to be the Chief Minister” had also created a flutter in political circles. Ajit Pawar currently shares the Deputy Chief Minister post with Fadnavis in the government led by Shinde.
Fadnavis said that cabinet expansion will take place soon after another ally, Ajit Pawar, joined the ruling coalition in Maharashtra. He asserted that his party doesn’t engineer splits in other parties, but never stops those who want to come along. “The BJP does not break other parties, but there will be no opposition to those who believe in Modi’s leadership and want to come along, ” Fadnavis said.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray has claimed that Eknath Shinde has been asked to resign. “I have heard that Eknath Shinde has been asked to resign and there might be some change in the government,” he told media.
Recently, Sanjay Raut had claimed that about 20 MLAs from Mr Shinde’s group were in touch with his party since NCP leader Ajit Pawar joined the state government. “Since Ajit Pawar and other NCP leaders joined the government, 17-18 MLAs from the Shinde camp have contacted us,” Sanjay Raut said.
Eknath Shinde, however, stressed that Ajit Pawar’s entry into the ruling coalition posed no threat to him. “With our government now made up of three parties, the strength of our MLAs is more than 200. Our government is only getting stronger. We have the support of PM Modi and Amit Shah,” said the Chief Minister.
Senior NCP leader Praful Patel yesterday said that Ajit Pawar was unanimously appointed as party president on June 30 – days before Ajit Pawar’s shock move of crossing over to the ruling alliance and taking oath as Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister.
“The decisions taken by the Sharad Pawar group, expelling or disqualifying leaders of the Ajit Pawar faction, were illegal and not applicable,” he told the media.
Ajit Pawar says his faction is the real NCP and has claimed the party name and symbol from the Election Commission. So far, he appears to have the support of 32 MLAs. Sharad Pawar has the support of 14. But he needs 36 MLAs, a two-thirds majority of the party’s 53 legislators, before the poll body considers his claim. -
The depths to which politicians sink
Ajit Pawar’s revolt has put the NCP and the Maha Vikas Aghadi on a sticky wicket
“Interesting also will be how the two new components of the functioning government will adjust to the new dispensation. The BJP has long since given up its self-description as ‘a party with a difference’. It will now have to adjust to the proclivities of its newfound friends. Their itching fingers will soon be on display. That should prompt our Prime Minister to amend his boastful proclamation, ‘Na khaunga na khane doonga’. The second half of the slogan may have to go. Unless, of course, he does not care and repeats things to himself for his own satisfaction to make himself believe what he speaks.”
Our Prime Minister dubbed India as the ‘mother of democracy’. He should take the lead to ensure that this ‘mother’ is given due respect. He can request the Election Commission to disqualify from holding office for five years all members of political parties who defect en masse mid-term. Only then will the ‘mother of democracy’ survive.
By Julio Ribeiro In his Rubaiyat, Persian poet Omar Khayyam wrote: “And pity Sultan Mahmud on his throne.” That was centuries ago. I pity the young Maharashtra Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, who now sits uneasily on his chair in Mumbai’s Mantralaya. He had one powerful deputy to consult and worry about. He now has two!
If the NCP is not able to stand on its legs, it will topple, unless Pawar defies his age and offers resistance, which he is trying to do.
Ajit Pawar, nephew of old warhorse and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, joined hands with the BJP on Sunday along with a bunch of fellow NCP MLAs. While Ajit was sworn in as Deputy CM at the Raj Bhavan, eight of his associates were made ministers in the ‘BJP-oriented’ Cabinet. Pawar’s confidant Praful Patel had got himself photographed next to the Governor at the swearing-in. Another Pawar protégé, Dilip Walse-Patil, and a third one, Hasan Mushrif, surprised everyone by defecting. Chhagan Bhujbal, who spent two years as an undertrial in jail before being released on bail, was among the turncoats. He is accused of siphoning off funds earmarked for the construction of Maharashtra Bhavan in New Delhi. When he was Home Minister in the then Congress-NCP government, there were numerous complaints against him of ordering transfers of police officers for cash. I had accused him in this regard in an article and taken up the issue with Pawar, his party boss at that time.
When Devendra Fadnavis was the Chief Minister, he had kept a sword hanging over Ajit’s head in the irrigation scam case involving Rs 35,000 crore. Param Bir Singh was the Director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau when the case against Ajit was finally closed. The Governor was woken up at the crack of dawn in order to checkmate Uddhav Thackeray’s attempt to become the Chief Minister in November 2019. Fadnavis and Ajit were sworn in as CM and Deputy CM, respectively, and they were in office for just three days before Pawar announced that the prodigal nephew had returned to the fold. Within those three days, the corruption case was closed! Many still doubt the tale spun around that defection and the subsequent ‘mea culpa’. Was it Pawar’s sleight of hand, as the old man now wants us all to believe, or was Ajit really carried away by the lure of office?
This time, though, it appears to be for real, though many old Pawar admirers think that the ‘wily Maratha’ will have the last laugh! My view is that this time there is no such chance. The array of NCP bigwigs, many of them with skeletons in the cupboard, who accompanied Ajit to the Raj Bhavan and the obvious fact that the nephew was smarting from the slight of having being downgraded in the NCP hierarchy by his uncle — all this smacks of revenge.
How will these developments play out finally? Shinde will find himself weakened. He will have two deputies breathing down his neck. Both exude more power and heft than he does. Fadnavis is certainly more cerebral. Ajit hails from a more recognized Maratha family compared to Shinde. In the majority Maratha community Ajit is likely to be a bigger draw. This leaves Shinde nowhere to go.
I do not know the reasoning behind this step the BJP has taken to further strengthen its party and weaken the Opposition. It would have been child’s play for the BJP to deal with Shinde, but Ajit will be a different kettle of fish. Of course, if the BJP is thinking of the Lok Sabha elections of 2024, it will be easier for the party to take on the Congress, the NCP (Sharad Pawar) and the Shiv Sena (Uddhav), with the NCP (Ajit) and the Shiv Sena (Shinde) being on its side. This contest is now wide open.
Pawar was one of the anchors of the Opposition parties uniting to fight the next Lok Sabha elections on a common platform. Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP and Telangana’s K Chandrashekar Rao are pulling in different directions compared to the Congress and the others. The promised unity is unraveling. And now, with Ajit’s revolt, the NCP will be considerably weakened. If it is not able to stand on its legs, it will topple, unless Pawar defies his age and offers resistance, which he is trying to do.
If this calculation of fortunes in the Lok Sabha elections is what motivated the BJP to shore up its strength with rebellious NCP legislators, the long-term scenario may not be to its liking. The ‘inter se’ relations between the two Deputy CMs and between the Chief Minister and his new deputy are very likely to sour sooner than later. How this will play out would be interesting.
Interesting also will be how the two new components of the functioning government will adjust to the new dispensation. The BJP has long since given up its self-description as ‘a party with a difference’. It will now have to adjust to the proclivities of its newfound friends. Their itching fingers will soon be on display. That should prompt our Prime Minister to amend his boastful proclamation, ‘Na khaunga na khane doonga’. The second half of the slogan may have to go. Unless, of course, he does not care and repeats things to himself for his own satisfaction to make himself believe what he speaks.
The NCP MLAs who have joined forces with the BJP could constitute the insurance cover for possible second thoughts in the Shinde faction. The reduction in numbers in the MVA tally will certainly make that political combination look like a scarecrow instead of a mighty Opposition force which it was. Analysts and pollsters had given the Maha Vikas Aghadi an edge over the BJP-Shiv Sena (Shinde) combine in the Lok Sabha elections. With Ajit’s defection, the equations will surely change. But taking into account the mercurial politics of Maharashtra, more developments are not only possible but probable. Our Prime Minister dubbed India as the ‘mother of democracy’. He should take the lead to ensure that this ‘mother’ is given due respect. He can request the Election Commission to disqualify from holding office for five years all members of political parties who defect en masse mid-term. Only then will the ‘mother of democracy’ survive.
(The author is a former governor and a highly decorated retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer)
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The Hindenburg Report on Adani conglomerate –
Uproar in Parliament, Opposition seeks JPC probe: Houses adjourned without transacting business
- RBI asks banks for details of exposure to Adani Group
- Boris Johnson’s brother quits linked firm; B’desh questions ‘expensive’ power deal
I.S. Saluja
NEW DELHI (TIP): The Hindenburg-Adani issue rocked Parliament with both Houses adjourned for the day without transacting any substantial business. The Congress-led Opposition raised allegations of irregularities against the Adani Group, demanding a probe into the matter by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) or by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court.
Both Houses were adjourned until 2 pm after presiding officers of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha rejected calls for deferment of proceedings to discuss the matter, prompting the Congress-led Opposition to demand a JPC probe or a day-to-day judicial probe headed by a Supreme Court judge. When the two Houses again met at 2 pm, the ruckus over the issue did not abate, and Parliament was adjourned for the day, a Tribune News Service report said. Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge led the demand for the JPC or a Supreme Court-monitored probe, with the DMK, TMC, SP, JD(U), Shiv Sena (Uddhav), CPI(M), CPI, NCP, IUML, NC, AAP and Kerala Congress joining the issue. The decision to press for an investigation came after a meeting at Kharge’s chambers in the morning which was attended by opposition parties. Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar had earlier said the notices were not in order, but Opposition leaders vowed to keep raising the matter till they were allowed a discussion. Kharge later told reporters that nine party leaders, including him, had given notices for adjournment of proceedings in the Rajya Sabha to discuss the issue but the proposal was rejected by Dhankhar.
Derek O’Brien of the TMC said: “Opposition leaders are being continuously harassed for no reason by the ED and the CBI. Now, the government must take action against the perpetrators of this monumental scam and ensure that they do not flee the country. The hard-earned money of millions of Indians is in peril.”
Ram Gopal Yadav of the SP said the matter was very serious as “people were being sent home by the SBI in several districts, saying that there’s no money.”
The Opposition has been alleging that public money of the LIC and SBI invested in Adani firms is in danger of sinking.
AAP’s Sanjay Singh asked: “Why is the government silent on this mega scandal? Adani is the scandal kingpin and the treasurer of the BJP. He has formed shell companies abroad, overvalued his shares and looted people’s money.”
Keshav Rao of the BRS questioned the RS Chairman’s rejection of the adjournment notices. “The Chairman says the notices are not in order. There’s no pro forma as far as adjournment notices are concerned,” he noted.
Shiv Sena (Uddhav) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi and DMK’s Kanimozhi also demanded a probe.
Meanwhile, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said, “We have to run the House smoothly. A good Budget has been presented under the guidance of PM Modi. If they have constructive suggestions about the President’s Address, they should give. I urge them to run the House smoothly and put forth their arguments.”
Congress: Why govt mum?
Modi govt is maintaining silence on the Hindenburg report. We will not remain quiet if you cheat Indian investors, consisting of 29 crore LIC policy holders and 45 crore SBI account holders.
Meanwhile, the RBI has asked banks for details of exposure to Adani Group.
As the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday, February 2, sought details about lenders’ exposures to the Adani Group, chairman Gautam Adani cited market volatility for the decision to withdraw the follow-on public offer (FPO) of its flagship firm Adani Enterprises. His companies continued to lose on the stock market with the cumulative rout nearing USD 108 billion in a week — one of the biggest wipeouts in India’s history.
The RBI is seeking details both from private and public banks with the total exposure to the group estimated at Rs 75,000 crore. It has also sought to know special arrangements extended to the companies such as collaterals in the form of bonds.
The National Stock Exchange (NSE) too has put shares of three group companies under the additional surveillance mechanism (ASM). The move indicates the company’s shares are in trouble and require special monitoring. In a media message, Adani claimed the fundamentals of the company were strong.
A day after Swiss lender Credit Suisse stopped accepting bonds by Adani Group companies as collaterals for margin lending, Norges Bank Investment Management from Norway followed suit. Citigroup also stopped extending margin loans against securities of the group.
Boris Johnson’s brother quits linked firm
Meanwhile, Lord Jo Johnson, younger brother of former British PM Boris Johnson, quit his non-executive directorship of a UK-based investment firm linked with the Adani Group’s now-withdrawn FPO. Johnson junior had taken the position in June last year and said he sat on the board after having been assured that the company “is compliant with its legal obligations and in good standing with regulatory bodies”.
Bangladesh questions ‘expensive’ power deal
Bangladesh too has sought a revision of a 2017 power purchase agreement with Adani Power after local media said the price was high and the issue had been earlier raised by PM Sheikh Hasina. The Bangladesh power company is seeking a 40 per cent downward revision in the price.
(Source: Agencies)
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With an Eye on 2024, 19 Opposition parties decide to hold nationwide protest
NEW DELHI (TIP): Leaders of 19 Opposition parties, on August 20,2021 announced a joint agitation plan from September 20 to 30 after Congress president Sonia Gandhi urged them to rise above political compulsions to defeat the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
It’s time to rise above political compulsions — Sonia Gandhi, Congress
All secular, democratic forces must join hands — Sharad Pawar, NCP
Mamata proposes core committee to steer fight against BJP
Tejaswi Yadav seeks ‘driving seat’ for regional parties
In a signed statement, Opposition stalwarts, including NCP’s Sharad Pawar, TMC’s Mamata Banerjee, DMK’s MK Stalin, Shiv Sena’s Uddhav Thackeray and JMM’s Hemant Soren, called upon the people of India to defend “the secular, democratic, republican order with all their might”.
11 demands
- Augment production and ensure free vaccination
- Give Rs7,500 a month to families outside income tax bracket
- Reduce prices of fuel
- Repeal three farm laws & guarantee MSP to farmers
- Pegasus probe under SC
- Release political prisoners, including those in Bhima Koregaon case, anti-CAA protests
- Restore J&K’s full statehood
- Stop, reverse privatization
- Revive MSMEs
- Expand MGNREGA
Jabs for teachers, pupils
“Save India today, so that we can change it for a better tomorrow,” they said listing 11 demands, including restoration of full statehood and elections in Jammu and Kashmir, repeal of three farm laws and institution of an SC-led inquiry into the Pegasus snooping row.
The statement followed a major Opposition outreach in which Sonia Gandhi said, “Our ultimate goal is the 2024 Lok Sabha poll for which we have to begin planning systematically with the single-minded objective of giving to our country a government that believes in the values of the freedom movement and in the principles and provisions of our Constitution. This is a challenge, but together we can and must rise to it because there is simply no alternative to working cohesively together. We all have our compulsions, but clearly, a time has come when the interests of our nation demand that we rise above them.”
Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee proposed the formation of a core group of Opposition leaders to chalk out joint programs. The like-minded parties “needed to unite to defeat the BJP”, she said.
The meeting was attended by leaders of the TMC, NCP, DMK, Shiv Sena, JMM, CPI, CPM, NC, RJD, AIUDF, VCK, Loktantrik Janta Dal, JDS, RLD, RSP, Kerala Congress Mani, PDP and IUML. The BSP, AAP and SP skipped the event, but the Congress claimed SP chief Akhilesh Yadav had intimated about his absence.
In the meeting, symbolically organized on the birth anniversary of her husband and late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia blamed the government for the recent Parliament washout.
(Agencies)
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Nepal protest throws life out of gear; 200 arrested
Kathmandu (TIP): At least six people, including two former ministers, were injured when police lobbed tear gas shells and resorted to baton charges to break up a protest rally during a nationwide general strike that paralysed normal life in Nepal on Thursday. Over 200 leaders and cadres of the Prachanda-led NCP faction were arrested for involvement in vandalism, arson, and other prohibited activities in different parts of the country, My Republica newspaper reported, citing police. Nepal Communist Party (NCP) splinter faction-led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda called for the protests to oppose the appointment of office bearers and members of various constitutional bodies by PM KP Sharma Oli-led caretaker government.
“Protesters tried to vandalise cars and a police van, forcing police to resort to mild force in which six people including two police personnel were injured,” Dhanusa district administrator Bandhu Prasad Bastola said.
Two former ministers, Ram Chadra Jha and Matrika Yadav, who are also senior leaders of the rival faction of the ruling party, were among the injured in Dhanusa.
Police said at least 157 people were detained across the country to curb the violence.
President Bidya Devi Bhandari appointed as many as 32 office bearers to 11 constitutional bodies on Wednesday morning. The Prachanda-led faction has alleged that they were appointed unconstitutionally. The caretaker government has no right to make new appointments or reshuffle the cabinet, he said. Nepal plunged into a political crisis on December 20 after Oli, known for his pro-China leanings, in a surprise move dissolved Parliament, amidst a tussle for power with Prachanda. — Agencies
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Maharashtra Mahabharat : Devendra Phadnavis Announces his Resignation as Chief Minister
MUMBAI(TIP): The beleaguered Devendra Fadnavis announced at a press conference here on November 26 that he will submit his resignation to the Governor.
Fadnavis in his statement said that the people of Maharashtra had given a clear mandate to BJP- Shiv Sena combine to form a government. But Shiv Sena claimed chief minister’s position with BJP on a rotational basis, something BJP had never agreed to. BJP made all efforts to have its old alliance partner to drop the demand but was stonewalled. Shiv Sena chose the parties it had always opposed.
NCP offered BJP support to form a government and a claim of majority was submitted to the governor who invited Fadnavis to form the government.
However, situation has changed. “We do not have majority. We will sit in the opposition”, said Fadnavis.
All eyes are now on Maharashtra Governor who is expected to accept the resignation of Fadnavis and invite the leader of the legislature party of Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress alliance to form a government.
(It is a developing story)
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Maharashtra Mahabharat: Supreme Court Orders Floor Test on November 27
Sena, NCP, Congress hail apex court order; BJP says will prove majority
Ajit Pawar resigns as deputy chief minister
Ajit Pawar has resigned as deputy chief minister Developing story
I.S. Saluja
NEW DELHI / MUMBAI(TIP): The high drama over government formation in Maharashtra is full of surprises and interesting twists. The efforts for a ghar vapasi of Ajit Pawar seem to be succeeding with Ajit Pawar resigning as deputy chief minister, November 26 afternoon.
Earlier in the morning, Supreme Court of India delivered its verdict on petitions filed by Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress challenging Maharashtra Governor’s “arbitrary and unconstitutional” action in inviting Fadnavis to form a government and swearing him in as chief minister who does not command majority. The petitioners claimed that they had the numbers and demanded immediate floor test.
The Supreme Court directed that the floor test for Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to prove his majority in the Maharashtra Assembly be conducted on Wednesday, November 27.
It directed Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to ensure that all elected members of the House were sworn in on Wednesday itself.
The apex court said the entire proceedings had to be telecast live. Voting in the Assembly would not be on the basis of secret ballot, it said.
Fadnavis was sworn in as chief minister and NCP’s Ajit Pawar as his deputy by the governor at a hush-hush ceremony in Raj Bhavan on Saturday morning.
In the 288-member House, the BJP will have to prove support of 145 MLAs to remain in power.
The BJP and the Sena, which fought the last month’s Assembly polls in an alliance, secured a comfortable majority by winning 105 and 56 seats, respectively.
The Sena, however, broke its three-decade-long ties with the BJP after the latter declined to share the chief minister’s post.
The NCP and Congress won 54 and 44 seats, respectively.
Welcoming the Supreme Court’s order calling for a floor test in the Maharashtra Assembly on Wednesday, the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress on Tuesday said truth would win and asserted that the BJP would be defeated.
On its part, the BJP said it respected the verdict and expressed confidence that it would prove majority on the floor of the House.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar, whose nephew Ajit Pawar rebelled against the party last week and supported the BJP to form government in the state, hailed the apex court for upholding the constitutional principles.
“I am grateful to Hon’ble SC for upholding democratic values and constitutional principles. It’s heartening that the Maharashtra Verdict came on the #ConstitutionDay, a Tribute to Bharatratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar!” Pawar tweeted after the ruling.
Shiv Sena’s Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut said truth could not be defeated.
“Satyamev jayate” (truth shall prevail), Raut tweeted.
“Satya pareshan ho sakta hai…parajit nahi ho sakta…Jai Hind!!” (Truth can get frustrated, but cannot get defeated), he said in another tweet.
Sena leader Eknath Shinde said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis should resign as the Uddhav Thackeray’s party-led coalition had the support of “162 MLAs” to prove majority in the Maharashtra Assembly.
He claimed that during the floor test, the ‘Maha Vikas Aghadi’ of the Sena, NCP and Congress would have the support of “170 legislators”.
NCP chief spokesperson Nawab Malik also hailed the Supreme Court order.
“Satyamev Jayate BJP ka khel khatm (Truth alone shall win, end of the BJP’s game),” Malik said on the micro-blogging site.
Welcoming the ruling, the Congress said the Constitution is supreme in a democracy, “which is more powerful than money and muscle power”.
Maharashtra BJP president Chandrakant Patil exuded confidence that his party would be able to prove majority on the floor of the House.
“We respect the court order. We are ready to prove majority and we will show it,” Patil told reporters here.
The BJP would hold a meeting of its senior leaders on Tuesday to work out a strategy ahead of the floor test, he said.
(With inputs from agencies)
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Maharashtra Government Formation: Sena approaches SC, calls Maharashtra Governor’s action arbitrary, malafide
Dilip Patil replaces rebel Ajit Pawar as leader of NCP legislature party
I.S. Saluja
MUMBAI/NEW DELHI (TIP): Maharashtra government formation is presenting swift and interesting scenes. After the Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari swore in Devendra Fadnavis as the chief minister on November 23 morning, the ShivSena challenged the Governor’s “arbitrary and malafide actions and decisions” in the Supreme Court.
The party has filed a writ petition in the apex court against the state governor, a Sena functionary said here.
Meanwhile, NCP leader Sharad Pawar held a meeting of NCP legislators in Mumbai. At the meeting, Dilip Patil was elected leader of the legislature party in place of the rebel Ajit Pawar who claimed support of 22 MLAs and was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister in Phadnavis government.
Addressing a press conference, Sharad Pawar, who was accompanied by Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis did not have the numbers to win the vote of confidence in the Maharashtra Assembly.
Pawar also produced three MLAs of the NCP, who accused Ajit of luring them to the Raj Bhavan where they were paraded before Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari.
“Ten to 11 MLAs had gone with Ajit Pawar to the Raj Bhavan this morning. Of them three are with me here and the others will soon follow,” Sharad Pawar said.
He added that the MLAs who were still with Ajit Pawar knew that they stood to lose their membership of the state Assembly under the anti-defection law. “All the MLAs who went with Ajit Pawar are in touch with us,” Sharad Pawar said.
The Maratha chieftain pointed out that as leader of the NCP legislature party, Ajit Pawar had a list of signatures of all the party MLAs. “I assume he has submitted the same list to the Governor. I will have to speak to the Governor and find out,” Pawar said.
Three MLAs, who were taken to the Raj Bhavan by Ajit Pawar, showed up at Sharad Pawar’s press conference where they alleged that they were duped by the younger leader. “Ajit Pawar had called me to discuss something where I found some other MLAs. We were all suddenly taken to Raj Bhavan and before we could understand what was happening, the oath-taking ceremony was completed,” NCP MLA Rajendra Shingane told reporters. His testimony was backed by two other NCP MLAs, Sandip Kshirsagar and Sunil Bhusara, who said they were unwittingly taken to the Raj Bhavan for the oath-taking ceremony.
The three leaders said they immediately came to Sharad Pawar as soon as they got out of Raj Bhavan.
Addressing the media, Uddhav Thackeray said the BJP is practicing horse-trading. “Let them try luring any Shiv Sena MLA and they know what awaits them,” Thackeray said.
Hitting out at Fadnavis, Thackeray said the CM did not respect democratic values. “…..from now on there is no need for election. Instead of saying ‘I will return’ some people should simply apply Fevicol to their chair and sit on it,” Thackeray said.
Later in the day, senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar said Ajit Pawar gave the letter of support on behalf of all 54 NCP MLAs. “There is no need for a separate letter from each legislator. The letter from the leader of the Legislature Party is sufficient,” Mungantiwar told reporters.
The month-long political impasse, after the October 24election results, ended dramatically with Devendra Fadnavis returning as the chief minister, backed by the Sharad Pawar-led NCP.
NCP leader Ajit Pawar was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister.
Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari administered the oath to the two in the morning ceremony, where only official media was present.
“People had given us a clear mandate, but Shiv Sena tried to ally with other parties after results, after which President’s rule was imposed. Maharashtra needed a stable government, not a ‘khichadi’ govt,” Fadnavis said.
Ajit Pawar, after taking oath as Deputy Chief Minister, said: “From result day on October 24, no party was able to form the government. Maharashtra was facing many problems, including farmer issues. So, we decided to form a stable government.”
Sharad Pawar on Thursday, November 21 night had said there was a consensus among the NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena that Uddhav Thackeray should lead the new government.
The political situation in Maharashtra is fluid and nobody can possibly predict the next scenario. However, one thing appears to be certain that given the fact that BJP is determined to have control of Maharashtra, it will go to any extent to remain in power now that Phadnavis is sworn in as chief minister. It may well be the repeat of Karnataka. Thanks to availability of huge funds and no accountability on sources of funding and spending, political parties will freely go in for horse trading, something which is an integral part of the political culture of India, as widespread corruption from top to bottom is. Reports are that each political party is securing its MLAs, keeping them in hiding, to prevent crossovers.
(With inputs from PTI)