New Delhi, Nov25, TEN Network | The row over government formation in Maharashtra will take centre stage in the Parliament and the Supreme Court on Monday.
A three-judge bench of the apex court has resumed hearing of the NCP-Congress-Shiv Sena plea against the formation of BJP-led government in the state. On Sunday, the bench directed the Centre to produce before it on Monday, documents pertaining to the swearing-in of Devendra Fadnavis as Maharashtra chief minister after the NCP, Congress and Sena challenged governor BD Koshyari’s decision to invite the Bharatiya Janata Party to form the government in the state a day earlier.
The three parties claimed they have 154 lawmakers in the assembly and added that Fadnavis was sworn in during a “make-shift and a hurriedly convened swearing-in ceremony”.
In Parliament, the Opposition, led by the Congress, raised the issue of the Maharashtra government formation.
Devendra Fadnavis was sworn-in as the chief minister by governor Koshyari on Saturday morning along with Ajit Pawar as the deputy CM, hours after NCP chief Sharad Pawar announced that Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray would head the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition government of the three parties. The swearing-in ceremony took place shortly after President’s Rule was repealed.
SC reserves order for tomorrow
Supreme Court reserves order for tomorrow 10.30 am.
‘We have numbers, ready to form govt’: NCP-Sena-Cong hand over letter to Guv
Earlier during the morning, a delegation of NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena visited the Raj Bhawan and handed over a letter of support from MLAs supporting their alliance to the governor’s personal secretary. The Governor, BD Koshyari, is in Delhi and will return to Mumbai by afternoon.
The letter, signed by Eknath Shinde, Jayant Patil and Balasaheb Thorat, said,”the Fadnavis government doesn’t have majority. We have the numbers and are ready to form the government.”
‘Court ordered floor test in 24-48 hrs in earlier cases’
Singhvi says, ” The court ordered floor test in 24 or 48 hours in earlier cases so as to preserve purity of democracy.”
NCP support to Ajit Pawar was without any covering letter’
“What BJP alliance has shown to Court are signatures of 54 NCP MLAs electing Ajit Pawar as legislative party leader.They weren’t signed support for joining BJP alliance to form government. NCP support to Ajit Pawar was without any covering letter. How can the governor turn a blind eye to this?”: Abhishek Manu Singhvi
‘He has been removed as legislative party leader’: Singhvi on Ajit Pawar
Abhishek Manu Singhvi tells SC, “It should shock the Court that somebody would get up and say “I am NCP”. He has been removed as Legislative Party Leader.”
‘If they have majority, why should they fear floor test’: Sibal on BJP
Kapil Sibal tells SC, ” If they (BJP) have the majority, why should they fear floor test. A floor test should be ordered within 24 hours, video recording of the proceedings and appointment of the senior most MLA as pro term speaker should be done.”
‘This is fraud on democracy of worst kind’: AM Singhvi
AM Singhvi, appearing for NCP, tell SC, “This is a fraud on democracy of the worst kind. Does a single NCP MLA say they are ready to go join BJP?”
Singhvi says he is not putting this submission on record but said it only to show how this would shock the conscience of the Court.
‘Democracy has been murdered’: Rahul Gandhi in LS
There was ruckus in Parliament on the issue of government formation in Maharshtra.
Speaking on the issue in Lok Sabha, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attacked the government over the political situation in Maharashtra and said “democracy has been murdered”
“I wanted to ask a question in the House but it doesn’t make any sense to ask a question right now as democracy has been murdered in Maharashtra,” Rahul Gandhi was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Later, both the houses were adjourned.
Kapil Sibal tells SC they have original affidavits signed by 154 MLAs
In the Supreme Court, Kapik Sibal says they have original affidavits signed by 154 MLAs.
‘See the conduct of authorities’: Kapil Sibal
Kapil Sibal, appearing in SC for Shiv Sena, says, “On Nov 22, there was a press conference where it was announced that Uddhav Thackeray will form the government, an alliance maha- agadi was announced.” He adds, “See the conduct of authorities. Why did these things happen between 7 pm to 5.17 am? The governor waited for a month but could not wait for 24 hrs.”
Floor test was done in 24 hrs in most cases: Justice Sanjiv Khanna
Justice Sanjiv Khanna says, “while citing the past judgement of the court in similar cases, floor test was done in 24 hours in most of the cases, in some, 48 hours.” : ANI
‘I am NCP’: Ajit Pawar to SC
Singh adds (for Ajit Pawar), “And as a leader of the party, I i am authorised to take a call on issues. I am NCP.”
My list of MLAs constitutionally correct, Ajit Pawar tells SC
Appearing on behalf of Ajit Pawar, lawyer Maninder Singh tells SC, “the list of MLAs which I gave is constitutionally and legally correct.”
‘Can the Centre monitor proceedings in the House?’ SG
“Can the Centre monitor proceedings of the house? it is barred,” says SG Tushar Mehta
‘Not a question of horse trading but entire stable going other way’
Solicitor General tells Court: “This is not a question of horse trading but an entire stable going other way.”
‘Can the Centre monitor proceedings in the House?’ SG
“Can the Centre monitor proceedings of the house? it is barred,” says SG Tushar Mehta
‘Not a question of horse trading but entire stable going other way’
Solicitor General tells Court: “This is not a question of horse trading but an entire stable going other way.”
‘Attack on governor unfounded, floor test has to happen now’
Mukul Rohatgi says, “attack on governor unfounded, floor test has to happen, now. SC cannot decide when the floor test should take place, the governor has acted wisely.”
‘Horse trading happening in NCP’: Fadnavis lawyer
Mukul Rohatgi appearing for Fadnavis says, “horse trading is happening in NCP between Ajit pawar and Sharad Pawar.
Rohatgi adds, “the governor acted like a reasonable person and correctly.”
‘This is family feud, not concerned with that’
Appearing for Devendra Fadnavis, Mukul Rohatgi said that the NCP Legislative Party Leader showed me (Fadnavis) letter of support of 54 MLAs. Based on that we went to the Governor. “One Pawar is with me. The other Pawar has approached court. That is their family feud. I am not concerned with that”, Rohatgi said on behalf of Fadnavis.
Guv had no reason to disbelieve Ajit Pawar: SG to Court
SG Tushar Mehta tell court that the Governor had no reason to disbelieve him (Ajit Pawar). The Solicitor General is appearing for the secretary of governor.
‘Note you have support of 170 MLAs’: Guv’s letter to Fadnavis
The governor in his letter to Fadnavis, said, “I have received letter from you …. you have also shown support of 11 MLAs independent and letter from NCP showing support of 54 MLAs. Thus, I note that you have support of 170 MLAs, (and so) I invite you to form the government.” : SG tells court
‘Ajit Pawar’s letter said they have decided to support BJP’
Tushar Mehta says, “Pawar’s letter of Nov 22 says they have decided to support fully the government under the BJP, under Fadnavis, and we will join the government”
SG seeks time to file reply to questions which ‘need to be discussed’
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to SC: “Shiv Sena has 56, NCP 54, INC 44 seats. There was talk about horse trading but the governor possibly felt that the entire stable is stolen. I’m seeking time to file reply as there are questions which need to be discussed.”
‘Guv received letter of support from Ajit Pawar on Nov 22’: SG
Solicitor General Mehta says the governor received a letter of support from Ajit Pawar on Nov 22, with signatures of 54 MLAs.
SG submits governor’s letter to the court
“The Governor invited three parties to form government. Since the three parties said they were not in a position to form the govt, President’s rule was imposed,” Tushar Mehta tells the SC bench.
He submits the governor’s letter to the court.
SG says he has copy of governor’s decision
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta tell the court he has got a copy of decision of governor.
SC hearing on NCP-Sena-Cong petition begins
SC hearing on joint petition by NCP-Congress-Shiv Sena has begun. Kapil Sibal (representing Shiv Sena) and Abhishek Manu Singhvi (representing Congress-NCP), Mukul Rohatgi (representing Maharashtra BJP) and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta are present in the court room.
Guv was right in inviting Fadnavis to form govt: Maha BJP lawyer Mukul Rohatgi
Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Maharashtra BJP in the Supreme Court, said, “Record of the governor is to be placed (in the court). I’ve seen that along with letter of Fadnavis, there was a letter by Ajit Pawar as head of legislative party with signatures of all NCP MLAs. The governor was right in granting an invitation to him (Fadnavis) to form the government.”
‘BJP has misused its power’: NCP chief Sharad Pawar
NCP chief Sharad Pawar has alleged that the BJP has misused its power at the Centre and the position of the Governor in Maharashtra for government formation. Speaking to the press at Karad, Pawar said, “BJP has formed a government in the state without having majority figure. They have misused the power in Centre and the Governor’s position to get this done.” (HT)
