High drama unfolded in Maharashtra after senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis took oath as chief minister of the state and Nationalist Congress Party's (NCP) Ajit Pawar took oath as his deputy early morning on Saturday at the Raj Bhavan in Mumbai. Fadnavis and Pawar swore-in just hours after it was almost confirmed that Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray will be taking oath as Maharashtra chief minister on Saturday. Ajit Pawar soon got into the hit-list of NCP, Congress and the Shiv Sena for switching side at the last moment after everything was apparently "finalised".
Ajit Pawar was removed as the leader of the NCP legislative party by Saturday evening; he was replaced by Jayant Patil. Meanwhile, the NCP exuded confidence that all of its MLAs will be back. According to senior NCP leaders, everyone except four to five MLAs is in touch with them and that the BJP will not be able to pass the floor test. The drama continued till late night as Shiv Sena Congress and the NCP filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court against "arbitrary, actions/decisions" of Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari. The apex court is currently hearing the combined plea of Sena, Congress, and NCP.
Here Is What SC Directed:
SC issues notice to Centre, Maharashtra Govt, Devendra Fadnavis&Ajit Pawar on Congress-NCP-Shiv Sena's plea. We request Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to produce relevant documents from Guv letter for inviting BJP to form govt & letter of support of MLAs by 10.30 am tomorrow.
Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for #Maharashtra BJP on Congress-NCP-Shiv Sena's plea: There is no need for court to pass order today. There was no illegality in Governor decision. Court should not pass order to fix date of floor test. The three parties here have no fundamental rights.
Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for #Maharashtra BJP on Congress-NCP-Shiv Sena's plea: Can the SC order the Governor to advance floor test? The petition is without annexures, they don’t know anything, they were sleeping for three weeks. There is no supporting document to their claims.
Also Read: Maharashtra Tussle: Sena-NCP-Congress demand immediate floor test in SC
How can political party approach SC under Article 32 for violation of Fundamental Rights? asks Rohatgi
Decision of governor is immune from review: BJP counsel Mukul Rohatgi