Maharashtra governor invites BJP to form government

BJP emerged as the single largest party in the state following the Assembly polls.

The Maharashtra governor has asked outgoing chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to indicate the willingness and ability of his party to form the government in Maharashtra, a communication from the governor’s office stated, reported Hindustan Times.

According to media reports, Fadnavis needs to prove his majority in the state assembly by 8 pm on Nov 11.

Amid the ongoing political deadlock in Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said the state Governor had asked him to continue as the acting Chief Minister of the state until a new government is formed or an alternative arrangement is reached. He resigned from the post on the same day.

Speaking on the ongoing tussle with Shiv Sena, he said: "I can understand if the Opposition criticises us. However, Shiv Sena, who is in the government, saying something about us is not acceptable."

On the same day, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray came out to counter him and said they had spoken to Home Minister Amit Shah about the 50:50 formula ahead of the state polls.

In a bitter war-of-words, Uddhav Thackeray said: "For the first time ever somebody has called the Thackeray family a liar.”

Following the poll results in Maharashtra, the Sena demanded not only the rotational Chief Ministership but also 50:50 power share in the government, all of which have been turned down by the BJP which has won 105 seats. The Sena won 56 seats.

The Sena's mild push to form a non-BJP government in the state was crushed on Wednesday with the refusal of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar to join the BJP's ally.

The Congress, which has 44 seats under its belt, has also distanced itself from the Sena.

The Sena was looking to cobble up the required number by adding NCP's 54 and Congress' 44.