Page 2 - Highlights| 'We think Ajit Pawar must've been pressured', says Sanjay Raut

The row over government formation in Maharashtra was taken up in the Supreme Court and the Parliament on Monday.

A three-judge bench of the apex court resumed hearing of the NCP-Congress-Shiv Sena plea against the formation of BJP-led government in the state. On Sunday, the bench directed the Centre to produce before it on Monday, documents pertaining to the swearing-in of Devendra Fadnavis as Maharashtra chief minister after the NCP, Congress and Sena challenged governor BD Koshyari's decision to invite the Bharatiya Janata Party to form the government in the state a day earlier.

The three parties claimed they have 154 lawmakers in the assembly and added that Fadnavis was sworn in during a “make-shift and a hurriedly convened swearing-in ceremony”.

The apex court later reserved its ruling on floor test in the Maharashtra assembly for Tuesday morning.

In Parliament, the Opposition, led by the Congress, raised the issue of the Maharashtra government formation.

Devendra Fadnavis was sworn-in as the chief minister by governor Koshyari on Saturday morning along with Ajit Pawar as the deputy CM, hours after NCP chief Sharad Pawar announced that Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray would head the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition government of the three parties. The swearing-in ceremony took place shortly after President’s Rule was repealed.

11:52 AM IST

SC reserves order for tomorrow

Supreme Court reserves order for tomorrow 10.30 am.

11:44 AM IST

'We have numbers, ready to form govt': NCP-Sena-Cong hand over letter to Guv

Earlier during the morning, a delegation of NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena visited the Raj Bhawan and handed over a letter of support from MLAs supporting their alliance to the governor's personal secretary. The Governor, BD Koshyari, is in Delhi and will return to Mumbai by afternoon.

The letter, signed by Eknath Shinde, Jayant Patil and Balasaheb Thorat, said,"the Fadnavis government doesn't have majority. We have the numbers and are ready to form the government."

<p>'We have numbers, ready to form govt': NCP-Sena-Cong hand over letter to Guv</p> — NCP-Sena-Congress delegation submitted a letter of MLAs supporting their alliance, to the officials at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai, November 25, 2019.

11:41 AM IST

'Court ordered floor test in 24-48 hrs in earlier cases'

Singhvi says, " The court ordered floor test in 24 or 48 hours in earlier cases so as to preserve purity of democracy."

11:40 AM IST

NCP support to Ajit Pawar was without any covering letter'

"What BJP alliance has shown to Court are signatures of 54 NCP MLAs electing Ajit Pawar as legislative party leader.They weren't signed support for joining BJP alliance to form government. NCP support to Ajit Pawar was without any covering letter. How can the governor turn a blind eye to this?": Abhishek Manu Singhvi

11:38 AM IST

'He has been removed as legislative party leader': Singhvi on Ajit Pawar

Abhishek Manu Singhvi tells SC, "It should shock the Court that somebody would get up and say "I am NCP". He has been removed as Legislative Party Leader."

11:36 AM IST

'If they have majority, why should they fear floor test': Sibal on BJP

Kapil Sibal tells SC, " If they (BJP) have the majority, why should they fear floor test. A floor test should be ordered within 24 hours, video recording of the proceedings and appointment of the senior most MLA as pro term speaker should be done."

11:29 AM IST

'This is fraud on democracy of worst kind': AM Singhvi

AM Singhvi, appearing for NCP, tell SC, "This is a fraud on democracy of the worst kind. Does a single NCP MLA say they are ready to go join BJP?"

Singhvi says he is not putting this submission on record but said it only to show how this would shock the conscience of the Court.

11:26 AM IST

Kapil Sibal tells SC they have original affidavits signed by 154 MLAs

In the Supreme Court, Kapik Sibal says they have original affidavits signed by 154 MLAs.

11:25 AM IST

'Democracy has been murdered': Rahul Gandhi in LS

There was ruckus in Parliament on the issue of government formation in Maharshtra.

Speaking on the issue in Lok Sabha, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attacked the government over the political situation in Maharashtra and said “democracy has been murdered”

“I wanted to ask a question in the House but it doesn’t make any sense to ask a question right now as democracy has been murdered in Maharashtra,” Rahul Gandhi was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Later, both the houses were adjourned.

11:20 AM IST

'See the conduct of authorities': Kapil Sibal

Kapil Sibal, appearing in SC for Shiv Sena, says, "On Nov 22, there was a press conference where it was announced that Uddhav Thackeray will form the government, an alliance maha- agadi was announced." He adds, "See the conduct of authorities. Why did these things happen between 7 pm to 5.17 am? The governor waited for a month but could not wait for 24 hrs."

11:14 AM IST

Floor test was done in 24 hrs in most cases: Justice Sanjiv Khanna

Justice Sanjiv Khanna says, "while citing the past judgement of the court in similar cases, floor test was done in 24 hours in most of the cases, in some, 48 hours." : ANI

11:11 AM IST

'I am NCP': Ajit Pawar to SC

Singh adds (for Ajit Pawar), "And as a leader of the party, I i am authorised to take a call on issues. I am NCP."

11:09 AM IST

My list of MLAs constitutionally correct, Ajit Pawar tells SC

Appearing on behalf of Ajit Pawar, lawyer Maninder Singh tells SC, "the list of MLAs which I gave is constitutionally and legally correct."

11:08 AM IST

'Can the Centre monitor proceedings in the House?' SG

"Can the Centre monitor proceedings of the house? it is barred," says SG Tushar Mehta

11:03 AM IST

'Not a question of horse trading but entire stable going other way'

Solicitor General tells Court: "This is not a question of horse trading but an entire stable going other way."