(Image source from: Newindianexpress.com)

'President's Rule Is Threat And Insult To Maharashtra' - Shiv Sena:- With the ongoing conflict about the future of the Maharashtra government and which party will form the government, BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar stated in a statement on Friday stating that the state might head for the President’s rule if there is no set of government decided by November 07, 2019.

Shiv Sena attacked its ally stating that the President’s rule is not just a threat but an insult to Maharashtra as well. Mungantiwar said that the delay in the formation of the government is only happening because of Sena’s demand for the post of Chief Minister from the past two and a half years.

When BJP refused to accept Sena’s demand for the Chief Minister post on a rotation basis along with the 50:50 deal for the power sharing, they took to the editorial press in the party’s mouthpiece Saamana.

According to the article, it stated saying, “Mungantiwar's statements are a proof of the toxicity brewing with the party (BJP) and in his mind. Is the President under your (BJP's) control or President's stamp is at BJP's office which will be used if party is not able to form government in the state and President's rule can be imposed in Maharashtra?"

Upon the final calculation of the results of the election that happened last week in Maharashtra, BJP won 105 seats out of the 288 total seats. Shiv Sena won in 56 seats in the state election. As a unit, they are past the 145 majority mark that is needed for a coalition government. NCP, which is Sharad Pawar’s party secured 54 seats which is just below to what Shiv Sena secured. Congress won 44 seats in the election.

The existing Legislative assembly’s tenure for the state of Maharashtra will exist till November 08 following which the new government has to overtake the responsibilities. Sudhir Mungantiwar stated saying, “A new government will have to be in place within the stipulated time, or else the President will have to intervene."

As per the editorial released by Shiv Sena following the possible threat of the President’s rule, they stated in the article saying, “The threat by Sudhir Mungantiwar is unconstitutional... It is an insult to Maharashtra and people's mandate. The question is why is the government not being formed in Maharashtra.... Who will give the answer? If again a BJP leader becomes chief minister and there are no claims to form government, should the people of the state be blamed? The warning to impose President's rule is like Mughals threatening. Maharashtra does not care about these threats, the party stressed in its mouthpiece. The President is the supreme institution of the Constitution... not an individual but representative of the entire country. The country is not in anyone's pocket.”

(Video Source: NDTV)

By Somapika Dutta