'Jiska Governor Uski Sarkar,' Says Akhilesh Yadav Amid Maharashtra Political Drama

Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav took a dig at the political developments in Maharashtra. "Ab to lagta hai ki, jiska Governor uski sarkar (now looks like the government belongs to whoever has the Governor)," the Samajwadi Party chief said.

"In the morning, I was thinking that some other party would form government in Maharashtra. However, now I feel that whosoever has the Governor will form the government," Yadav told ANI.

Yadav made the comment after BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis was sworn-in as Chief Minister of Maharashtra for the second consecutive term and NCP's Ajit Pawar as his deputy on Saturday. The oath ceremony was administered by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari at the Raj Bhawan.

The development came at a time when the talks between Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena over government formation in Maharashtra had seemingly reached the final stage on Friday. As the day progressed, allegations and counter-allegations from an elated BJP-led camp on one side and the stunned Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress combine on the other continued thick and fast.

The NCP on Saturday evening removed Ajit Pawar as the party’s legislature unit leader, hours after he joined hands with the BJP in a coup and took oath as deputy of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Ajit Pawar’s actions defied the party’s policies, said a resolution passed at the legislature wing’s meeting here, attended by party supremo Sharad Pawar. State NCP chief Jayant Patil will have all the constitutional rights till the next legislature party leader is elected, it said.

The three parties - Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress - moved the Supreme Court seeking an urgent hearing on their petition challenging the Maharashtra Governor, Bhagat Singh Koshyari's move regarding government formation in the state. According to reports, the apex court is expected to take up the case for hearing around 11:30 am.

SC bench of Justice NV Ramana, Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice Sanjiv Khanna will hear the plea of Shiv Sena, NCP, and Congress, challenging Maharashtra governor's decision to swear-in Devendra Fadnavis as CM.