Shiv Sena's Exit From NDA Becomes Official As President Accepts Arvind Sawant's Resignation

It’s official! The Shiv Sena’s exit from the NDA took a irreversible turn with President ram Nath Kovind accepting Arvind Sawant’s resignation on Tuesday. According to an official statement, “The President of India, as advised by the Prime Minister, has accepted the resignation of Shri Arvind Ganpat Sawant from the Union Council of Ministers, with immediate effect, under clause (2) of Article 75 of the Constitution.” This means that the BJP leadership in Delhi is playing hawk and is in no mood to relent to its new ‘frenemy’. The statement also said that, “Further, as advised by the Prime Minister, the President has directed that Shri Prakash Javadekar, Cabinet Minister, be assigned the charge of the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, in addition to his existing portfolios.”

On Monday, amid strong buzz of the NCP and the Shiv Sena coming together to form a government with help from the Congress, Sawant announced his resignation citing ‘trust deficit’ between the BJP and the Sena.

Addressing media in New Delhi, Sawant accused the BJP of reneging on its promise to the Sena for equal division of seats and power and forcing the Uddhav Thackeray-led party to snap ties. He alleged that the BJP was resorting to "lies" by denying the agreement reached between the leaders of the two allies before the assembly elections.

"They have also hurt my party by lying. Since there is no trust left, I have decided to resign," Sawant told reporters. He also accused the BJP of hurting the sentiments of the Shiv Sena and of the Thackeray family. "I have resigned as Union minister. I have sent my resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi," the Shiv Sena leader said and displayed his letter resigning as Heavy Industries minister.

Asked if the Sena has snapped its ties with the BJP, he said, "When I have resigned, you can understand what it means."

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Monday spoke to Congress president Sonia Gandhi and sought her party’s support to form a government in Maharashtra. The phone call from Thackeray to Gandhi came before the Congress held a crucial meeting for a second time in the day to decide on whether or not to support the Shiv Sena. The Shiv Sena chief sought the Congress’ support to form a government in Maharastra, sources said.

The Sena, the second largest party in the 288-member House with 56 MLAs after the BJP’s 105 members, stepped up efforts to grab power in the politically crucial state.