The Shiv Sena, Congress and the NCP have moved the Supreme Court after the BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as Maharashtra chief minister for a second time at Raj Bhavan this morning with a deputy, Ajit Pawar, whose Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) had announced a pact with Shiv Sena along with the Congress. The petition will be heard at 11:30 am tomorrow.
"We are absolutely certain that the BJP-led government which is sworn in today does not have the numbers to pass a floor test. We completely back the Shiv Sena and want a government under Uddhav Thackeray," said NCP chief Sharad Pawar, in a joint press briefing with Uddhav Thackeray. Mr Pawar said some MLAs of his party cheated into attending the early morning oath ceremony and paraded three MLAs who were at the oath ceremony.
According to reports, 50 of the 54 MLAs attended a meet called by Sharad Pawar at party headquarters, indicating that the party chief was right.
The Congress, which had been in talks with the Sena and NCP to form government in Maharashtra, said the BJP has "betrayed" the people of Maharashtra.
The BJP, meanwhile, claimed that it had the "electoral and moral" mandate to form a government in Maharashtra and brushed aside the criticism of its alliance with Ajit Pawar, who was accused by the party in the past of corruption, saying the tie-up was guided by the "given situation". BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad hit out at the Congress-NCP and the Shiv Sena, saying those who were "dead opposed" to each other joined hands to "grab" power, while the saffron party and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had won the popular mandate to form government.
President's rule was revoked at 5.47 am to facilitate the sudden oath ceremony. According to a Home Ministry notification, President Ram Nath Kovind issued the proclamation for revocation of the central rule early this morning. After taking oath as the Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said: "People had given us a clear mandate, but Shiv Sena tried to ally with other parties after results, as a result, President's rule was imposed. Maharashtra needed a stable govt, not a 'khichdi' government." Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar on taking oath as chief minister and deputy chief minister of Maharashtra respectively. "I am confident they will work diligently for the bright future of Maharashtra," PM Modi said.
Here are the LIVE UPDATES on Maharashtra government formation:
NCP sources: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLAs being shifted to Renaissance Hotel in Mumbai. #Mumbai pic.twitter.com/N9wcmOmMPN
- ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2019
Nationalist Congress Party MLA Atul Benke in Mumbai: I am with Sharad Pawar Ji. We all are together. #MaharashtraGovtFormation pic.twitter.com/DEalx3o2AW
- ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2019
Mumbai: Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar is holding a meeting with NCP MP Sunil Tatkare and NCP MLAs Dilip Walse Patil and Hasan Mushrif at his brother Sriniwas Pawar's residence; Security has been heightened outside the residence of Sriniwas Pawar pic.twitter.com/KDzv2WOKpG
- ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2019
shri @Dev_Fadnavis and Shri @AjitPawarSpeaks JI Congrats on taking oath as CM and Deputy CM. Best wishes to you and your government to work toward the growth of Maharashtra and it's people.
- B.S. Yediyurappa (@BSYBJP) November 23, 2019
Ravi Shankar Prasad: Look, we do not wish to make personal attacks and comments on Shiv Sena and its leaders. We will not do so. We were an alliance and we will not say anything personal against anyone. We waited for Shiv Sena... gave them enough time... they took 20-25 days. We are ashamed at the language used by the Shiv Sena for the prime minister and the home minister in their editorial mouthpiece Saamana... It is shameful and a new low for their party. We will not stoop to that level. We will make no comments about their leaders. I repeat the people of Maharasthra have given the BJP both the mandate and the numbers. Both leaders took oath today with letters of support from their MLAs... that makes it legal. What is happeneing within the NCP, we cannot comment on. That is for the NCP to say. We will see what happens.
Ravi Shankar Prasad says, "People in Maharashtra were starting to ask questions that if the mandate is so clearly in BJP's favour then why not stop this unholy alliance. Why not respect the mandate and form the government. The place to prove our majority is the Maharashtra Assembly, and we will prove it when the time comes."
Union Information and Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "The mandate was for BJP. The numbers (single-largest party) was BJP... the people wanted Fadnavis as their chief minister where is the doubt? The mandate is clear of what the people want. In 2014 BJP contested 260 seats and got won 46% of them. In 2019 we contested 150 seats and won 105.... Which is better than the 2014 performance. The Shiv Sena candidates benefitted from the goodwill of the BJP and the leadership of Devendra Fadnavis ji. It has to be accepted and noted that people wanted Fadnavis as their chief minister again. The Congress and NCP themselves said that the mandate is for them to sit in the opposition. So how has this suddenly become a match-fixing to grab the chair?"
Reacting to the government formation in Maharashtra, BJP leader, Nitin Gadkari said, "I had earlier said anything can happen in cricket and politics, now you can understand what I meant."
Union Minister & BJP leader, Nitin Gadkari on #MaharashtraGovtFormation: I had earlier said anything can happen in cricket and politics, now you can understand what I meant. pic.twitter.com/Lv9Gc65tKQ
- ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2019
Already some of the MLAs have returned... we are confident they will all come back... we are meeting at 4 pm today for our party's legislature party meeting and all further actions and planning will be done then. We are absolutely certain that the Devendra Fadnavis government which was sworn in today do not have the numbers, and will lose the floor test. We will form the government, says NCP leader Nawab Malik.
Congress leader Ahmed Patel said, "Today was a black spot in the history of Maharashtra. Everything was done in a hushed manner and early morning. Something is wrong somewhere. Nothing can be more shameful than this."
Ahmed Patel,Congress: Today was a black spot in the history of Maharashtra. Everything was done in a hushed manner and early morning. Something is wrong somewhere. Nothing can be more shameful than this. pic.twitter.com/MHpahKkE2A
- ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2019
P supporters celebrate after Devendra Fadnavis was elected as the Maharashtra Chief Minister for a second term, outside his residence in Mumbai, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019.
Not surprised with the developments in Maharashtra. BJP was a bit too quiet thru it all, wish cong would have acted faster their delayed decision gave a window to BJP to strike. One more opportunity lost. #MaharashtraPolitics #Maharashtra
- Priya Dutt (@PriyaDutt_INC) November 23, 2019
Congress leader Ahmed Patel said, "Today's meeting of the three parties will go ahead as per schedule and we will discuss all pending issues, including who will be the leader of the alliance. This press conference is just to clarify any doubt and to inform you all that we are intact. All our MLAs are safe and with us, except two who have gone home. We three will come together to defeat the BJP in the vote of confidence"
We have all the information on how Ajit Pawar was blackmailed. We have all the details on record.... Very soon we will expose the BJP and reveal all this in Saamana. As for Chandrakant Patil (BJP Maharashtra President)... you better watch out... you all act like thieves... Chandrakant Patil watch out, says Sanjay Raut.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said, "What was the need to cover up what happened in Maharashtra. What is the morality behind the withdrawal of President's rule and the swearing-in? Which direction are they taking the country to? The time will come when the countrymen will answer this and teach the BJP a lesson."
We will make a decision on Ajit Pawar and the decision will be that of the entire party, says Sharad Pawar. Our discipline committee will take action against all those who have participated in the swearing-in ceremony today. There is no decision on removing Ajit Pawar, that will be a party decision - a collective decision. If need be, we will do whatever it takes to keep the flock together (on a question about moving MLAs to a safe location/resort), says Sharad Pawar.
This is a new kind of thing that the country has witnessed... This is nothing but disrespect towards the constitution of India and the mandate of the people of Maharashtra. This is not just in Maharashtra... the BJP is doing this all over the country. The BJP is forming governments with people like Dushyant Chautala, who they spoke against all along. The BJP must go back and introspect... and see what ideals Shivaji Maharaj stood for. This is nothing but a political surgical strike that the BJP has done. We will stand together and we will form the government in Maharashtra, says Uddhav Thackeray.
Sharad Pawar said, Each and every party and all MLAs who were part of the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress alliance had put their names on a piece of paper which was then signed by Ajit Pawar since he was the legislative party leader of the NCP. We believe Ajit Pawar took this very letter to the governor and told him that he has NCP's support. We are absolutely certain that the BJP-led government which is sworn in today does not have the numbers to pass a floor test. We completely back the Shiv Sena and want a government under Uddhav Thackeray.
We found out that 8-10 of our MLAs along with Ajit Pawar assembled for a sudden meeting. The next we know that the oath-taking ceremony takes place. We had no clue of any of this. We are in no way part of all this and Ajit Pawar has acted independently. The NCP, all of us, are still with the Sov Sena and Congress. We just got a call from Ajit Pawar, so we went. We had no clue that this was against party stand. We just got a call from Ajit Pawar, so we went. We had no clue that this was against party stand.
BJP as a party has always believed in forming an alliance with anyone and in any manner to come to power. But NCP can never join hands with BJP. I am told that 10-11 MLAs have gone along with Ajit Pawar and joined hands with the BJP, says Sharad Pawar.
Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, Aditya Thackeray and other leaders address press conference.
Few outside Maharashtra had heard of Devendra Fadnavis when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah handpicked him five years ago for the post of Chief Minister. The 49-year-old took oath as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra for the second time on Saturday, in a stunning twist in the state's politics. He is one of the youngest Chief Ministers of Maharashtra. He has scored rich praise not just from Amit Shah, but also from Mohan Bhagwat, the all-powerful chief of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the BJP's ideological mentor. Speaking at a rally ahead of the state election, Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister, said he had "never seen anyone work" like Mr Fadnavis.
In a veiled attack at Ajit Pawar who took oath as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, NCP leader Nawab Malik on Saturday said that his party had taken signatures from MLAs for attendance which were later misused. "We had taken signatures from MLAs for attendance, it was misused as a basis for the oath," Mr Malik told reporters in Mumbai. Earlier in the day, Devendra Fadnavis took oath as Chief Minister of Maharashtra for the second term. BJP, with 105 seats forged alliance with the Nationalist Congress Party which bagged 54 seats to garner the majority figure.
Slogans raised in support of Sharad Pawar and against Ajit Pawar by a group of NCP workers outside YB Chavan Centre where Congress-NCP-Shiv Sena will address the media shortly.
Mumbai: Slogans raised in support of Sharad Pawar and against Ajit Pawar by a group of NCP workers outside YB Chavan Centre where Congress-NCP-Shiv Sena will address the media shortly. #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/d8SdQhWVPO
- ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2019
Union Minister Ramdas Athawale declared this morning that the BJP had taught the Sena, its former ally in the state, a lesson. On Friday he had warned the Shiv Sena that an alliance with the Congress and the NCP to form the government in Maharashtra could not last. Mr Athawale also said he knew a BJP government would come to power and suggested that the NCP joining hands with the BJP could have happened because the Congress had dragged its heels over an alliance with it and the Sena.
Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi has lamented his party's delay in extending support to the Shiv Sena and the NCP to form the government in Maharashtra. Mr Singhvi's tweet came less than an hour after a dramatic overnight twist in Mumbai saw the BJP retain power in the state on the back of an alliance with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). In a tweet posted at 8.45 am, Mr Singhvi described the news of a BJP-NCP alliance as "surreal" and said Congress negotiations with the Sena and the NCP had taken too long. "Surreal what I read abt #Maharashtra. Thought it was fake news. Candidly &personally speaking, our tripartite negotiations shd not have gone on for more than 3 days...took too long. Window given was grabbed by fast movers," Abhishek Singhvi wrote.
"Congress, NCP and Shivsena will have a joint press conference at 12.30 pm at YB chavan pratishthan," said Sanjay Raut.
Congress
- Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) November 23, 2019
NCP
Shivsena
joint press conference
12.30 pm
YB chavan pratishthan
At what time was the Union Cabinet meeting held that recommended revocation of President's rule in Maharashtra???? Who all were present? Where are the minutes?
- Sanjay Jha (@JhaSanjay) November 23, 2019
Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Chief Sharad Pawar, Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge & Ahmed Patel arrive for the Congress-NCP-Shiv Sena joint Press Conference at the YB Chavan Centre. #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/Z0qeRpahIT
- ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2019
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, who was hoping to become chief minister with the support of the NCP and the Congress, will address a press conference at 12.30 pm along with NCP chief Sharad Pawar, who has called his nephew Ajit Pawar's move his "personal decision and not one endorsed by the party. Sharad Pawar reportedly phoned Mr Thackeray and said he was "unaware".
Sanjay Nirupam: People would be thinking I will be happy by today's developments,but I am actually very sad. Congress has been unnecessarily defamed in this and thinking of alliance with Shiv Sena was a mistake. I appeal to Sonia ji to at first dissolve Congress Working Committee pic.twitter.com/dvg9sEBCDB
- ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2019
People had voted for @bjp4Maharastra alliance. @ShivSena betrayed people & peoples' mandate & decided to go with the #Congress, which opposed Ram Mandir & Veer Savarkar; @ShivSena was happy to go with the #Congress, which is synonymous to corruption & had imposed emergency.
- Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) November 23, 2019
In a massive overnight twist in Maharashtra, the BJP's Devendra Fadnavis took oath as Chief Minister in the early hours of Saturday, with a deputy, Ajit Pawar, whose Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) had just hours ago pledged support to the Shiv Sena along with the Congress. "Maharashtra needed a stable government, not a khichidi shaasan (mishmash government)," Mr Fadnavis said after taking oath, adding that the Shiv Sena "did not follow people's mandate". "We were invited by the Governor to form government. I thank NCP and Ajit Pawar for supporting us," he added.
Nawab Malik, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP): We had taken signatures from MLAs for attendance, it was misused as a basis for the oath. #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/vZo05p1vri
- ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2019
BJP Working President, JP Nadda in Ahmedabad: I congratulate the people of Maharashtra, a stable government under the leadership of Devendra Fadnavis ji has been formed. It is a sign of a mature democracy.
Illegal and evil manoeuvres take place in the secrecy of midnight
- Ahmed Patel (@ahmedpatel) November 23, 2019
Such was the shame that they had to do the swearing in hiding
This illegitimate formation will self destruct
"Thank you so much Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji. Under your guidance and leadership, we are once again looking forward to take Maharashtra to newer and greater heights,' Fadnavis tweeted.
Thank you so much Hon'ble PM @narendramodi ji !
- Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) November 23, 2019
Under your guidance and leadership, we are once again looking forward to take #Maharashtra to newer and greater heights ! https://t.co/laJKhXZWFL
An urgent meeting has been called by Congress at party office in Mumbai. Senior party leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and KC Venugopal to be present.
BJP leader Girish Mahajan said, "We will prove our majority with support of over 170 MLAs. Ajit Pawar has given a letter to Governor about support of his MLAs and as he is legislative party leader of NCP, which means all NCP MLAs have supported us."
Girish Mahajan,BJP: We will prove our majority with support of over 170 MLAs. Ajit Pawar has given a letter to Governor about support of his MLAs and as he is legislative party leader of NCP, which means all NCP MLAs have supported us
- ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2019
#Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/shVRc0HmWy
BJP working president J P Nadda tweeted, "I congratulate Devendra Fadnavis ji and Ajit Pawar ji on taking oath as the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, respectively. I am sure that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP-NCP Government will take Maharashtra to newer heights."
I Congratulate @Dev_Fadnavis Ji and @AjitPawarSpeaks Ji on taking oath as the CM and Deputy CM of Maharashtra respectively. I am sure that under the guidance of Hon PM @narendramodi Ji, BJP-NCP Gov will take Maharashtra to newer heights.
- Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) November 23, 2019
Hon Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari administered the oath of Chief Minister of Maharashtra to Shri Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM to Shri Ajit Pawar. pic.twitter.com/88AXf9EYV3
- CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) November 23, 2019
Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala took to Twitter and said that the latest development in Maharashtra government formation is a "betrayal of mandate and democracy".
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said, "People of Maharashtra have been cheated. It was about trust of Maharashtra, you have used your money power to your advantage."
Nagpur: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers celebrate after Devendra Fadnavis takes oath as Maharashtra Chief Minister, again. pic.twitter.com/t1ab9j4USH
- ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2019
Congratulations Shri @Dev_Fadnavis on taking oath as the CM of Maharashtra. I am confident that with your commitment and dedication you will continue to serve the people. Congratulations @AjitPawarSpeaks on taking oath as Deputy CM of Maharashtra .
- Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) November 23, 2019
Reacting to Devendra Fadnavis taking oath as chief minister and Ajit Pawar as deputy chief minister, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar said, "Ajit Pawar's decision to support the BJP to form the Maharashtra Government is his personal decision and not that of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). We place on record that we do not support or endorse this decision of his."
Ajit Pawar's decision to support the BJP to form the Maharashtra Government is his personal decision and not that of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
- Sharad Pawar (@PawarSpeaks) November 23, 2019
We place on record that we do not support or endorse this decision of his.
With government formation today, the President's rule, which was imposed across the state 10 days ago, has been revoked.
The notification revoking President's rule in Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/JSbAIOFUE6
- ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2019
Congratulations to @Dev_Fadnavis ji and @AjitPawarSpeaks ji for taking oath as the CM and Deputy CM of Maharashtra respectively
- Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) November 23, 2019
Under your leadership and good governance, the state will achieve new heights of development & provide a better future for the people of Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/AOPpp11hgq
Surreal wht I read abt #Maharashtra. Thought it was fake news. Candidly &personally speaking, our tripartite negotiations shd not have gone on for more than 3 days...took too long. Window given was grabbed by fast movers. #pawarji tussi grt ho! Amazing if true, still not sure
- Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) November 23, 2019
NCP leader Ajit Pawar takes oath as Deputy chief minister, oath was administered by Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari at Raj Bhawan.
NCP's Ajit Pawar takes oath as Deputy CM,oath was administered by Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari at Raj Bhawan pic.twitter.com/e1wVtiGZJX
- ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2019
Congratulations to @Dev_Fadnavis Ji and @AjitPawarSpeaks Ji on taking oath as the CM and Deputy CM of Maharashtra respectively. I am confident they will work diligently for the bright future of Maharashtra.
- Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 23, 2019
Devendra Fadnavis takes oath as the Maharashtra Chief Minister for 2nd term.
Devendra Fadnavis took oath as Maharashtra Chief Minister again,NCP's Ajit Pawar took oath as Deputy CM,oath was administered by Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari at Raj Bhawan pic.twitter.com/KrejSTXTBd
- ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2019
Ajit Pawar sworn in as deputy chief minister of Maharashtra