Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari Recommends President’s Rule In State

Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Tuesday recommended President’s Rule in state. The development was confirmed by the Raj Bahvan, "Governor of Maharashtra Bhagat Singh Koshyari having been satisfied that as Govt of Maharashtra cannot be carried on in accordance with the Constitution, has today submitted a report as contemplated by the provisions of Article 356 of Constitution (President's Rule)." The critical development comes at a time when the major non-BJP parties are negotiating over government formation. Despite 21 days after the results of the Maharashtra Assembly Elections, no political party has been able to form a government in the state.

Earlier in the day, the Narendra Modi-led Union Cabinet recommended the President's Rule in Maharashtra.The Union cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, met in New Delhi in afternoon to discuss the political impasse in Maharashtra and decided to recommend to the president to impose Central rule in the state. After the meeting, the prime minister left for Brazil to attend the BRICS summit.

The development comes after fast-paced changes on Monday. On Monday evening, the Shiv Sena had claimed that the NCP and Congress have agreed "in-principle" to back its government without the BJP in Maharashtra but failed to get letters of support from the political rivals before the deadline set by the Governor who rejected its plea for three more days to do so. As the impasse in government formation entered the 18th day and the prospect of President's rule loomed, the Congress appeared not wanting to take a hasty decision to align with its ideological rival, and decided to hold further talks with its pre-poll ally Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on the issue of supporting the Sena.