Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar
The term of the Maharashtra Assembly ends today i.e. Tuesday. Mahayuti, the alliance that won a landslide victory in the assembly elections, is yet to announce the name of the Chief Minister. Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde are in the race, but the BJP high command will decide whose name will be approved. It is said that the picture of Maharashtra will become clear in a day or two. The inauguration may take place on November 28 or 29.
But before that, what will happen when the Assembly’s term ends? Will the Government have to take the oath before November 26? What will happen if this does not happen? What will happen if Mahayuti cannot take a decision on CM name today? Will the president’s rule prevail in the state?
According to experts, there is no need for the new Government or the new Chief Minister to take oath before November 26. The belief that once the term of the current Assembly ends, the President’s rule will automatically be imposed in the state after midnight. Experts consider this incorrect. There is no constitutional obligation to form a new government before November 26.
A legislative official rejected reports that if a new government is not formed by November 26, the President’s rule could be imposed. In fact, Election Commission of India officials on Sunday arrested the governor of Maharashtra, CP The 15th Assembly has now come into existence and copies of the Gazette have been handed over to Radhakrishnan with the names of the newly elected members of the State Assembly. The official said that according to Article 73 of the Representation of the People Law, once the notification of the names of the elected members is submitted, the House will be deemed to be duly constituted.
What happened first in Maharashtra?
There have been many such occasions in the state before where the Chief Minister has taken oath after the end of the Assembly term.
- In 2004, the Assembly’s term ended on October 19. The Chief Minister took oath on November 1, 2004.
- In 2009, the term of the 11th Assembly ended on November 3. CM took oath for the 12th Assembly on November 7, 2009.
- The term of the 12th Assembly ended on 8 November 2014 and the new Chief Minister of the 13th Assembly took oath on 31 October 2014.
- The term of the 13th Assembly ended on November 9, 2019. The new Chief Minister took oath on November 28, 2019.
Shinde became acting CM
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has resigned from his post as CM. He submitted his resignation to Governor CP Radhakrishnan. The Governor has appointed him as Acting Chief Minister. Until the government is formed, Eknath Shinde will be the acting Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
When was President’s rule imposed in Maharashtra?
So far, the President’s rule has prevailed thrice in Maharashtra. It was first installed in the state on February 17, 1980. This was in force for 112 days. The government at that time had been in power for a year and a half. Sharad Pawar was the then Chief Minister and was removed by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who returned to power after the Emergency.
After this, President’s rule was imposed in Maharashtra in 2014. It was applicable from September 28, 2014 to October 31, 2014. President’s rule was imposed in the state for the third time in November 2019. This was imposed on November 12. After the assembly election results were announced on October 24, the Shiv Sena alliance had a clear majority, but the BJP and Shiv Sena held firm on the CM post, so the coalition could not be formed. government. Since the government was not formed within the stipulated time, Governor Koshyari decided to impose President’s rule.
Why is there a delay?
Mahayuti won excellent seats in the Maharashtra Assembly elections. After the overwhelming victory, there is a fight in the alliance for the CM position. Maharashtra BJP leaders demand that Fadnavis be appointed CM, while Shinde group MLAs demand that Eknath Shinde be appointed CM. Several Shiv Sena leaders made statements that Shinde should continue in office because the big victory as Chief Minister was achieved only under his leadership. After the results, the BJP high command is mulling over who should be given the responsibility of CM.
The BJP won 132 seats in the assembly elections. At the same time, Shiv Sena-led Shinde won 57 seats. The Ajit Pawar-led NCP won 41 seats.
