Deputy CM Alleges President’s Rule in Maharashtra Imposed with Sharad Pawar’s Consent, NCP Denies Involvement
In a surprising turn of events, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis claimed on Wednesday that the President’s Rule imposed in Maharashtra in 2019 had the consent of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar. However, the NCP firmly denied any involvement in the decision, stating that it was purely a call made by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre.
The controversy arose during the India Today Conclave when Fadnavis was asked about the timeline of his attempt to form a short-lived government with the NCP. Fadnavis insisted that discussions were held with Sharad Pawar regarding government formation after the 2019 assembly elections. He claimed that they had even finalized portfolio distribution and responsibilities of guardian ministers. However, Pawar allegedly made a sudden U-turn and withdrew his support, leading to the imposition of President’s Rule. It is worth noting that the NCP had won 54 seats in the 2019 state polls.
The BJP had emerged as the single largest party in the Maharashtra assembly elections, winning 105 out of 288 seats, while its former ally Shiv Sena secured 56 seats. However, differences over power-sharing, particularly the coveted Chief Minister’s post, led to a breakdown in the alliance. Consequently, President’s Rule was imposed in the state due to the deadlock.
Fadnavis further revealed that the NCP had declined to stake claim for government formation, and the party’s letter expressing this decision was typed at his residence in Mumbai. According to Fadnavis, Pawar suggested some corrections, which were incorporated before submission. Fadnavis stood by his claim that Pawar consented to the decision of imposing President’s Rule in Maharashtra.
Sharad Pawar, on the other hand, denied Fadnavis’s allegations while speaking at the same event. He pointed out that the BJP, being the ruling party at the Centre, had the authority to impose President’s Rule regardless of his consent. Pawar questioned why they would seek his opinion if they had the requisite numbers to support such a decision. The NCP’s spokesperson, Mahesh Tapase, termed Fadnavis’s claims as baseless and reaffirmed that the decision to impose President’s Rule was solely made by the Central government.
This latest episode highlights the ongoing political tussle between the BJP and NCP in Maharashtra. Despite repeated attempts by the BJP to damage the NCP’s vote share through initiatives like Operation Lotus, the NCP has remained resilient. Tapase expressed his concern over why the BJP seems fixated on Sharad Pawar and accused Fadnavis’s previous government of being responsible for tragic incidents, such as the deaths of infants and others, in cities like Nanded and Aurangabad.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, formed through an alliance between the Shiv Sena, NCP, and Congress, came to power after the collapse of Fadnavis’s government last year. Nonetheless, recent political developments, including Ajit Pawar’s defection to the ruling coalition, have added further layers of complexity to Maharashtra’s political landscape.
In conclusion, while Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis claims that President’s Rule in Maharashtra was imposed with Sharad Pawar’s consent, the NCP denies any involvement and attributes the decision solely to the BJP-led Central government. This ongoing feud highlights the political dynamics within Maharashtra and underscores the challenges faced by parties in maintaining stable alliances for effective governance.
