Devendra Fadnavis Resigns As Maharashtra Chief Minister

By FnF Correspondent | PUBLISHED: 26, Nov 2019, 17:36 pm IST | UPDATED: 26, Nov 2019, 17:39 pm IST

Mumbai: In a massive turn of events, newly appointed Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday announced his resignation a day ahead of floor test could be held to test the strength of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in the state assembly. Speaking to reporters in a press conference, Fadnavis also informed that his deputy CM Ajit Pawar of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has also stepped down from his post.

However, Fadnavis also blamed Pawar's resignation behind the fall of BJP government. Earlier in the day, Ajit Pawar tendered his resignation hours after the Supreme Court ordered floor test of the BJP government in Maharashtra to be held on November 27. Both Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar took oath and CM and Deputy CM on Saturday, nixing Shiv Sena, Congress and the NCP's bid to form government in the state.

"After this (press conference) I will go to Raj Bhavan and tender my resignation. I wish them all the best whoever will form the government. But that will be a very unstable government as there is huge difference of opinions," Fadnavis said while announcing his resignation. "We waited for them (Shiv Sena) for a long time but they did not respond and instead talked to Congress-NCP. People who never stepped outside Matoshree (Thackeray residence) to meet anyone were going door to door to make government with NCP and Congress," he said.

Ajit Pawar handed in his resignation to me this morning on personal grounds. So, now we don't have the requisite numbers to continue. Accordingly, I have decided to resign. I shall meet the Governor and submit my resignation today," Fadnavis told a crowded media conference this afternoon.

Fadnavis also thanked the people of Maharashtra and the BJP, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP President and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, his colleagues and legislators for reposing faith in him and giving him an opportunity to serve for the past five years as the state CM.

While speaking to reporters, Fadnavis alleged that Shiv Sena said this before elections that they will go with anyone who gives them the Chief Minister post. "The hunger for power is such that now Shiv Sena leaders are even willing to ally with Sonia Gandhi," the BJP leader said while attack both Sena and the Congress.

Fadnavis appointment as Maharashtra CM shocked many including the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress alliance which then decided to move Supreme Court against governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari’s decision to invite BJP to form a government in the state.

Fadnavis clarified his swearing-in by saying that the BJP had staked claim to form a government after Ajit Pawar as the leader of NCP decided to tie-up with BJP. “The government was formed as Ajit Pawar gave a letter of support of all 54 of his party MLAs,” said Fadnavis.

Responding to questions of why did the BJP joined hands with Ajit Pawar despite being the main accused in the irrigation scam, Fadnavis said that "We did inquiry during our tenure, rest of the cases are court-monitored. NCP made him its leader so we had to take a decision. NCP could have nominated someone else too." Ajit Pawar had also served as the deputy CM of Maharashtra in the Congress-NCP government between November 2010 and September 2012 before resigning over allegations of the irrigation scam.

The political development was greeted with distribution of sweets and celebrations by activists of the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, besides other smaller parties. Earlier, Fadnavis renewed his tirade against the Shiv Sena for insulting the "public mandate" which it had got in alliance with the BJP and deciding to ally with other parties.

The following day, Sunday, the Sena-NCP-Congress moved the Supreme Court for an urgent hearing which was granted and the matter posted for Monday. After the hearing on Monday, today the apex court ordered an assembly floor test on Nov. 27, with open voting and live telecast.