BJP's Devendra Fadnavis has taken oath as the chief minister of Maharashtra. He was sworn-in by Governor Bhagat S. Koshyari, alongside, NCP's Ajit Pawar, who will serve as the deputy CM of the state today at 8 AM. NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray addressed a press conference where Pawar confirmed that deputy CM Ajit Pawar has taken 10-11 MLAs with him and he has been removed as legislature party leader. Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray dared the BJP to poach his lawmakers and said that Maharashtra 'will not be sleeping tonight'. NCP MLA Shingne said that Ajit Pawar had summoned him and other MLAs to his flat, and on the arrival of Fadnavis and CB Patil they had an idea what was going on following which three lawmakers came back and reported to Sharad Pawar. NCP MP from Baramati Supriya Sule told the Hindustan Times that there is a split in the NCP. Nawab Malik, NCP lawmaker, said that signatures of MLAs which had been taken to mark attendance was deliberately misconstrued as support for the newly formed government.
'We'll fight politically as well as legally': Patel
Ahmed Patel says that Congress will fight the BJP and Ajit Pawar's government both politically and legally.
'Three parties are united. We await the floor test': Patel
Ahmed Patel says BJP has no majority and says NCP-Sena-Congress team will win the floor test.
'Congress did not do anything to delay Govt formation in the state': Patel
Ahmed Patil said that everything went according to schedule and only a few topics were supposed to be discussed with the Sena. He says it is because of a few NCP MLAs that these problem has occurred.
'5 out of 8 MLAs who went with Pawar have come back': Raut
Sena MP says that these lawmakers were almost kidnapped. He added that he will expose those who have been blackmailing Ajit Pawar in a Saamna editorial.
'I had a feeling that something is wrong': Ahmed Patel
Congress leader Ahmed Patel said that BJP unashamedly insulted the mandate of the people.
'Even Ajit Pawar could come back, he's been blackmailed': Sanjay Raut
Sena MP Raut said that Dhananjay Munde is in talks with him and he might come back to the NCP-Sena fold.
Congress begins its press conference in Mumbai
Ahmed Patil and Maalikarjun Kharge speak to the media.
Sharad Pawar says he does not know if Ajit's move was triggered by fear of investigation agencies
NCP chief says that he is not sure if Ajit Pawar had taken the MLAs fearing probe from investigating agencies. He said of the 10-11 MLAs who had gone to the Governor House, 3 of them are sitting here with him.
Several leaders have questioned Fadnavis on his selection of Ajit Pawar as deputy CM. Sanjay Nirupam and Digvijay Singh of Congress had questioned the Maharashtra CM on how he would run the state with a person who he had accused of graft in several state government and also used it as a poll plank.
'This is surgical strike on Maharashtra's mandate': Sena Chief
Uddhav Thackeray said that a surgical strike has been carried out on the mandate of the people of Maharashtra.
'Maharashtra will not sleep tonight': Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray
Uddhav Thackeray has dared the opposition to try and poach its MLAs. He said, "They can try and see. Maharashtra is not going to sleep tonight"
'Earlier they were playing with EVMs but this is an entirely new game': Sena Chief
Uddhav Thackeray tells the media that holding elections are now redundant. He added that people instead of saying that 'they will return to power', they should rather 'put Fevicol in a chair' and 'stay put'.
NCP to get new legislative leader at 4 PM
Sharad Pawar tells the media that NCP called a meeting of MLAs at 4pm to decide new legislative party leader and discuss other issues.
'They cannot prove majority': Sharad Pawar
NCP chief while speaking to the reporters said that the Fadnavis-Ajit Pawar-led government will not have the numbers to form a government.
10-11 MLAs have gone with Ajit Pawar, says Sharad Pawar
The NCP chief says that 10-11 MLAs have supported Ajit Pawar in his move.
'Ajit told us to visit him in the morning': Dr Shingne tells the media
NCP leader R Shingne tells the media that Ajit Pawar had called him to come to Ajit Pawar's bungalow at 7 am. After 8-10 MLAs had arrived they were taken to Raj Bhavan and made to sit in a small room . He further added that he did not know what was going on and only after Fadnavis, Chandrakant Patil and others had arrived they came to know what was going on. He said, following this they directly came to Sharad Pawar after the incident.
First published: Nov 23, 2019 08:38 IST