Maharashtra Government Formation: Supreme Court to Pass Order on Floor Test at 10.30 AM Tomorrow

New Delhi, November 25: The Supreme Court on Monday said that it will pass an order on the issue of holding a floor test in Maharashtra Assembly tomorrow, on Tuesday morning at 10.30 am. Earlier, the Supreme Court resumed the hearing on the petition of Shiv Sena, Congress and the NCP on the Governor of Maharashtra inviting BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis for the swearing-in and the BJP forming the government in Maharashtra without a floor test. The apex court on Sunday had directed the Maharashtra government, led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, to submit two letters; 1) Governor's letter inviting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to form a government in Maharashtra 2) letter of support submitted by Fadnavis. Devendra Fadnavis-Ajit Pawar Meeting: Maharashtra Deputy CM Claims Support of 27 NCP MLAs, Reports.

The Centre provided the two letters asked by the Supreme Court, on the basis of which Devendra Fadnavis took oath as the chief minister of Maharashtra on Saturday, November 23, 2019. The apex court asked for the translated versions of the copy as the original were in Marathi. Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress Stake Claim to Form Maharashtra Government as Devendra Fadnavis Takes Charge as Chief Minister of State.

The Solicitor General, representing the Centre, argued in the Supreme Court on Monday that no party could form government, despite given time by the governor. The SG said that all the 54 NCP MLAs signed on the letter to the governor. SG Tushar Mehta also asked for some time (2-3 days) from the apex court. Maharashtra Govt Formation: Senior NCP Leader Chhagan Bhujbal Visits Ajit Pawar's Residence to Resolve Crisis in Party.

BJP lawyer Mukul Rohatgi said that the Governor was well within his rights to adminsiter the oath to Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. Rohatgi said that the Governor had invited every party for the oath taking, but every party failed to form the government. Rohatgi defended the Governor and said that before the floor test, the protem speaker and the speaker should be appointed in the house.

Kapil Sibal, representing the Shiv Sena, said that the "jockeys have fled but the horses are here." Sibal questioned the Governor's move and claimed that the Congress, NCP, Shiv Sena combine have support of 154 MLAs, well above the majority mark.

Abhishek Manu Singhvi, arguing for the Congress and the NCP, asked the Supreme Court "how should the floor test be conducted?" Singhvi also asked about the appointment of protem speaker and the speaker before the floor test. "I'm happy to lose floor test today, but they (BJP alliance) don’t want floor test," he said to the court.

The Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress combine sought quashing of Maharasthra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari's decision to invite BJP's Fadnavis to form the government. Maharashtra Governor Koshyari on Saturday morning administered the oath of office to Fadnavis as the new Chief Minister of Maharashtra and NCP leader Ajit Pawar as his deputy.

The swearing-in ceremony took everyone by surprise as the state was under the President's rule. It was later revealed that the notification revoking President's rule was issued around 5:45 am, while the swearing-in ceremony of Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar took place around 8 am.

The BJP emerged as the single largest party in Maharashtra assembly winning 105 seats, and along with its longtime ally, Shiv Sena was in a comfortable position to form a government. The Shiv Sena, however, with 56 legislators, refused to join the BJP in forming a government, insisting on rotational chief ministership. The Shiv Sena had since been trying to form a government with the help of the NCP and Congress, which had won 54 and 44 seats respectively.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 25, 2019 11:55 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).