Devendra Fadanvis resigns, blames Shiv Sena for political impasse

Mumbai, Nov 26: Upholding the sanctity of constitution on the Constitution Day, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadanvis too decided to tender resignation for the want of sufficient numbers to form the government in the state following the resignation of NCPs Ajit Pawar who was made deputy chief minister.

Fadnavis and Pawar were sworn in as Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister respectively on November 23 by the Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari after being satisfied by the proof regarding number of supporting MLAs submitted by the BJP and NCP.

The opposition parties namely, Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress moved the Supreme Court against this decision of the Governor. The apex court on Tuesday ordered that the floor test should be conducted tomorrow by 5 pm. Following this the Deputy CM resigned making it obvious that the BJP would not be able to face the floor test.

Making this announcement in a press conference today afternoon Devendra Fadnavis said that the people of Maharashtra have voted in favour of BJP giving 105 seats in its kitty. The BJP and Shiv Sena contested the elections together in an alliance. But the Sena changed its language soon after results were declared and it was clear that no party has sufficient numbers to form the government.

Fadnavis further said that the Shiv Sena started putting new demands which were never discussed and agreed upon during the talks of the senior party leaders. They preferred to go with NCP and Congress for the power. We refused to bow before their bargaining.

When the Government invited us for forming the government, we politely refused as we did not have sufficient number of MLAs required to form the government. But when Ajit Pawar, leader of NCP legislature party came and extended support to us, we approached the Governor and then formed the Government, Fadnavis said unfolding the sequence of events that took place.

The outgoing Chief Minister further said that Ajit Pawar came today to meet me and said that he was resigning for some reasons; we decided that we cannot continue for the want of sufficient numbers. Hence, I will be going to the Governor soon after the press conference over and tender my resignation.

He said that three parties with different ideologies are coming together to form the government but “I am sure that this government would collapse under the weight of its inherent contradictions”, Fadnavis said making a sarcastic comment on Shiv Sena’s compulsion to accept Sonia Gandhi’s leadership for power. However, he congratulated the new combination.

He said that the BJP would sit in Opposition and provide an effective opposition to the state raising the issues of people. “The BJP will act as an effective Opposition”, he reiterated.

Fadnavis thanked the people of the state for giving an opportunity to serve them for five years. He also thanked the cabinet colleagues, officers and others for the cooperation they extended to the BJP government during the last five years.