Maha twist: Fadnavis back as CM, Ajit sworn in as Dy CM

Mumbai: At the break of dawn on Saturday, India witnessed an unprecedented political stunner in Maharashtra. When people went to sleep on Friday night, they knew Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray was likely to be their next Chief Minister. After days of hectic parleys, "unanimity" was reached with the Congress and NCP ironing out an agreement, paving way for government formation with the Sena at the helm and more importantly, the BJP out of power.

But on Saturday early morning, Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as the state's Chief Minister with Ajit Pawar as his deputy. The political twist stunned the Sena and the Congress that together with the NCP chieftain Sharad Pawar had endorsed Thackeray for the top job late on Friday night.

The NCP chief later clarified that the decision was solely Ajit's and not the party's. Ajit was removed as the leader of the NCP's Legislative Wing by the party MLAs who met in Mumbai later on Saturday, replacing him with Jayant Patil.

Hours after Fadnavis took oath as the Maharashtra Chief Minister along with Ajit Pawar as his deputy at Raj Bhawan, Shiv Sena moved the Supreme Court and filed a writ petition against the BJP-led government formation. In the petition, Sena maintained that Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari acted in a 'partisan manner' while he administered the oath to the two leaders at Raj Bhawan. "The facts, in this case, demonstrate that the Hon'ble Governor has belittled the constitutional office of the Governor and has allowed himself to be a pawn in BJP's illegal usurpation of power," Sena wrote in the petition.

Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena, Congress and the NCP moved the Supreme Court, seeking a floor test within 24 hours to avoid further horse-trading and "illegal manoeuvres" in Maharashtra.

The petition sought quashing of Maharasthra Governor's decision inviting Fadnavis to form the government on Saturday morning as unconstitutional, arbitrary, illegal, void-ab-initio, and violative of Article 14 of the Constitution of India.

"The petitioners are also praying for an immediate floor test within 24 hours so as to avoid further horse-trading and illegal manoeuvres to somehow cobble up a majority from the Maha Vikas Aghadi," said the petition.

All the action began on Friday afternoon when the entire focus was on Sena, NCP and Congress. Ajit Pawar approached the Maharashtra Governor in Mumbai with signed letters from all 54 of NCP's winning candidates in the Assembly elections, extending his support to Fadnavis and the BJP. News of this letter of support being delivered to Governor Koshiyari remained a secret for nearly 20 hours.

Later on Friday night, Fadnavis quietly met Governor Koshiyari and staked claim to form the government, along with the support of 54 of NCP's MLAs, 15 others and the BJP.

At 5.47 am on Saturday, the Centre lifted the President's Rule that had been imposed in Maharashtra on November 12 when no party had been able to stake claim to government formation.

This decision was apparently taken without a Cabinet meeting. Quoting sources, a news agency reported that the Prime Minister invoked Rule 12 of the government's transaction of business to go ahead with this decision. The rule gives the Prime Minister special powers to bypass the need for Union Cabinet's recommendation.

Around 7.30 am, there was news that Fadnavis had taken oath as the Chief Minister along with Ajit Pawar who was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister. Ajit had managed to ensure that 10-12 NCP MLAs attended his oath-taking ceremony.

Later in the day, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar addressed a joint press conference in Mumbai. "The NCP is strongly opposed to forming any government with the BJP. NCP's alliance with the Shiv Sena and the Congress remains intact," he said.

Pawar presented three MLAs — Rajendra Shingne, Sandeep Kshirsagar and Sunil Bhusara — who said they were present with Ajit at the time of the oath-taking ceremony on Saturday morning.